Cornish Flowage dam
Cornish Flowage
Cornish Flowage, located in Aitkin, Minnesota, is a state-regulated dam completed in 1976 for the primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, this rockfill dam stands at a height of 8 feet with a structural height of 9 feet and a length of 38 feet. With a storage capacity of 2000 acre-feet and a surface area of 300 acres, it plays a crucial role in controlling the flow of the Savannah River-TR.
The dam's condition is assessed as fair with a low hazard potential, and it undergoes inspections every 8 years to ensure its safety and integrity. The surrounding area benefits from its flood protection measures, with a maximum discharge capacity of 30 cubic feet per second. Despite its modest size and capacity, Cornish Flowage serves as a vital infrastructure for water resource management in the region, contributing to the overall resilience of the community against potential flooding events. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate would find this dam's design and purpose intriguing, highlighting the intersection of engineering, environmental conservation, and disaster risk reduction.
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 Cornish Flowage -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 550 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 2,450 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 231 cfs | → |
| St. Louis River At Scanlon | 3,410 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cornish Flowage.
Boat launches
- Loon Avenue 63508, Aitkin County
- 206th Place Aitkin County
- 657th Lane Aitkin County
- Aitkin County
- 561st Lane Aitkin County
- State Highway 65 Aitkin County
Campgrounds
- Hay Lake Campground
- Savanna State Forest -Hay Lake
- Savanna Portage State Park Campground
- Sandy Lake-Coe
- Jacobson County Campground
- Jacobson Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
- Carlton County State Aid Highway #12 Bridge To The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
- Upper Saint Louis
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
Track Cornish Flowage 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 Cornish Flowage
Where does the data for Cornish Flowage 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 Cornish Flowage.