Sand Hill No. 2 dam
Sand Hill No. 2
Sand Hill No. 2 is a local government-owned earth dam located in Fertile, Minnesota, along the Sand Hill River. Completed in 1981 by Houston Eng, this dam serves a primary purpose of flood risk reduction in the area. Standing at a height of 15 feet and with a length of 295 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 700 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 600 cubic feet per second.
The dam is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Division of Ecological and Water Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. Despite being classified as low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment as of October 2017 was deemed satisfactory. With a moderate risk level of 3, the dam has not had any Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared or updated recently, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and risk management measures to ensure its safety and functionality in the face of potential climate-related challenges.
Located in Polk County, Minnesota, Sand Hill No. 2 plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks along the Sand Hill River. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to recognize the significance of infrastructure like this dam in managing water resources and addressing the impacts of climate change on local communities. Efforts to assess and improve the resilience of such structures are essential in safeguarding both the environment and the people who rely on them for protection and water management.
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 Sand Hill No. 2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| County Ditch 65 Near Maple Bay | 1 cfs | → |
| County Ditch 72 (Burnham Ck) Nr. Maple Bay (Sw3) | 0 cfs | → |
| Judicial Ditch 64 Near Mentor | 43 cfs | → |
| Wild Rice River At Twin Valley | 229 cfs | → |
| Cyr Creek Near Marcoux Corners | 42 cfs | → |
| Clearwater River At Red Lake Falls | 213 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sand Hill No. 2.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Agassiz Environmental Learning Center
- Heiberg Park Campground
- Heiberg Park
- Fosston City Campground
- Bosworth City Park
- Spring Lake City Park
Track Sand Hill No. 2 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 Sand Hill No. 2
Where does the data for Sand Hill No. 2 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 Sand Hill No. 2.