Belle Creek R-5 dam
Belle Creek R-5
Belle Creek R-5, located in Goodhue County, Minnesota, is a key infrastructure project designed by the USDA NRCS for flood risk reduction along the Belle Creek river. Completed in 1983, this earth dam stands at a height of 37 feet and stretches 625 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 500 acre-feet and a normal storage of 133 acre-feet. The dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction, with a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of April 2017.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Belle Creek R-5 is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state agency to ensure its operational integrity. With a spillway type of uncontrolled and an outlet gate also uncontrolled, the dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 665 cfs and covers a drainage area of 2.72 square miles. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, the dam has not been modified in recent years and meets state guidelines for emergency action plans, ensuring the safety and security of the surrounding community in White Rock.
With Angie Craig serving as the representative for the area, Belle Creek R-5 plays a vital role in protecting the local environment and residents from potential flooding events. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to stay informed about the condition and management of such structures to support sustainable water management practices and ensure the resilience of our communities in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Belle Creek R-5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cannon River At Welch | 553 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Red Wing | 19,600 cfs | → |
| Vermillion River Near Empire | 45 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Prescott | 21,900 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Below L&D #2 At Hastings | 17,700 cfs | → |
| Straight River Near Faribault | 318 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Belle Creek R-5.
Boat launches
- Scout Ridge Road Goodhue County
- Mill Towns State Trail Dakota County
- Gerlach Way Dakota County
- Mississippi River -- Hager City
- County Road 68 Goodhue County
- 190th Street Way Goodhue County
Track Belle Creek R-5 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 Belle Creek R-5
Where does the data for Belle Creek R-5 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 Belle Creek R-5.