Frauenkron Detention dam
Frauenkron Detention
Frauenkron Detention, located in Houston, Minnesota, is a privately-owned earth dam designed by NRCS with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Completed in 1981, this structure stands at a height of 33 feet and spans 360 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 23 acre-feet. The dam serves to mitigate flood risks along the Money Creek-TR and has a low hazard potential, with a fair condition assessment as of May 2017.
Managed by the MNDNR EWR, Frauenkron Detention is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state of Minnesota. While the dam's spillway type is listed as uncontrolled, it has a maximum discharge capacity of 560 cubic feet per second. With a drainage area of 0.6 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 1.3 acre-feet, this structure plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. Despite being classified as having a moderate risk level, Frauenkron Detention remains an important asset for flood risk reduction efforts in the area.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Frauenkron Detention -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Root River Near Houston | 1,010 cfs | → |
| South Fork Root River Near Houston | 182 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Winona | 29,300 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River Near La Crosse | 466 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Pilot Mound | 436 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Dodge | 793 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Frauenkron Detention.
Boat launches
- River Street Dakota
- Long Lake -- Landing
- Mississippi River -- Trempealeau Landing
- Mississippi River -- Round Lake -- Access
- Trempealeau River -- Perrot State Park
- French Slough -- Lower French Island Spillway
Campgrounds
- Houston Nature Center Trailhead Campground
- Cushon's Peak Campground
- Outback Ranch
- Vinegar Ridge Campground
- Wet Bark Campground
- North End City Park
Fishing spots
- Franklin St. Fishing Pier
- Huff Street Fishing Pier
- Dacota Street Fishing Pier
- Pine Creek
- New Albin Big Lake
- French Creek
Paddle runs
- The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek To Lane's Bridge
- The Town Of Bluffton To The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek
- The Minnesota-Iowa State Border To Ends Near The Town Of Bluffton, Iowa
- Western Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument To Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument
Track Frauenkron Detention in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Frauenkron Detention
Where does the data for Frauenkron Detention come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Frauenkron Detention.