Twp Road 29 dam
Twp Road 29
Twp Road 29 is a crucial earth dam located in Lyon County, Minnesota, designed for flood risk reduction along the Cottonwood River. Completed in 1999, this structure stands at a height of 22 feet and spans 500 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 3,235 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is currently assessed to be in poor condition, highlighting the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its effectiveness in mitigating flood risks.
Managed by the local government, Twp Road 29 falls under the regulatory oversight of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Division of Ecological and Water Resources. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 6 feet, allowing for a maximum discharge of 573 cubic feet per second. While the dam is not equipped with outlet gates, its primary purpose remains focused on flood risk reduction, serving the surrounding community of Russell and contributing to the overall water resource management efforts in the region.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the structural integrity and functionality of dams like Twp Road 29 is essential for ensuring the safety and resilience of communities in the face of changing weather patterns and increased flood risks. With a moderate risk assessment rating and a history of poor condition, stakeholders must prioritize proactive measures to address maintenance needs and enhance the dam's capacity to protect lives and property in the event of flooding events along the Cottonwood River.
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 Twp Road 29 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood River Near Marshall | 20 cfs | → |
| Flandreau Cr Above Flandreau Sd | 2 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux River Near Brookings Sd | 297 cfs | → |
| Yellow Medicine River Near Granite Falls | 173 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux River Near Bruce | 243 cfs | → |
| Redwood River Near Redwood Falls | 161 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Twp Road 29.
Boat launches
- Picnic Point Road Lincoln County
- County Road 14 1104, Lincoln County
- West Cottage Avenue Hendricks
- Brookings County
Track Twp Road 29 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 Twp Road 29
Where does the data for Twp Road 29 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 Twp Road 29.