Mud Lake Restoration dam
Mud Lake Restoration
The Mud Lake Restoration project, located in Meeker County, Minnesota, was completed in 1970 with the primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. Managed by the state regulatory agency MNDNR EWR, this Earth dam structure stands at a height of 9 feet and has a storage capacity of 440 acre-feet. The dam's low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment make it a crucial asset for water resource management in the region.
With a drainage area of 4.5 square miles and a maximum discharge of 50 cubic feet per second, Mud Lake Restoration provides essential flood control and habitat enhancement for local wildlife. The project's location along Cottonwood Creek-TR and its close proximity to the city of Dassel highlight its significance in preserving water quality and supporting biodiversity in the area. As part of ongoing inspection and enforcement efforts by the state, the dam continues to play a vital role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem and ensuring the safety of nearby communities.
As climate change impacts water resources, the Mud Lake Restoration project serves as a model for sustainable water management practices. Through collaboration between state agencies and designers from NRCS, this initiative showcases the importance of maintaining and enhancing natural habitats while addressing the challenges posed by a changing climate. By prioritizing the conservation of water resources and promoting ecological resilience, Mud Lake Restoration stands as a testament to the proactive efforts being taken to safeguard our environment for future generations.
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 Mud Lake Restoration -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Crow River At Rockford | 1,640 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At St. Cloud | 5,460 cfs | → |
| Sauk River Near St. Cloud | 531 cfs | → |
| Elk River Near Big Lake | 246 cfs | → |
| High Island Creek Near Henderson | 65 cfs | → |
| Elm Creek Nr Champlin | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mud Lake Restoration.
Boat launches
- Meeker County
- Mcleod County
- County Road 35 West Buffalo
- Lake Boulevard South Buffalo
- 126th Avenue 17974, Stearns County
- Hutcheson Avenue Eden Valley
Campgrounds
- Collinwood County Park
- Stanley Eddy Regional Park Reserve South
- Stanley Eddy Memorial Park Reserv (North)
- Piepenburg County Park
- Piepenburg Co Park
- Lake Ripley County Park
Track Mud Lake Restoration 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 Mud Lake Restoration
Where does the data for Mud Lake Restoration 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 Mud Lake Restoration.