Fish Lake Fish Barrier dam
Fish Lake Fish Barrier
Fish Lake Fish Barrier, located in Cottonwood, Minnesota, is a state-owned structure designed to prevent fish migration in the Watonwan River South Fork. It serves as a crucial tool for managing fish and wildlife populations in the area, with a primary purpose of functioning as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. The barrier is constructed of concrete, with a height of 7 feet and a storage capacity of 862 acre-feet, providing essential habitat for aquatic species.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Fish Lake Fish Barrier is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state agency to ensure its proper functioning and environmental impact. Despite its low hazard potential, the structure has not been rated for condition assessment, and the last inspection took place in April 2008. With a surface area of 300 acres and a drainage area of 2.3 square miles, the barrier plays a vital role in maintaining ecological balance and protecting the local aquatic ecosystem.
Fish Lake Fish Barrier is a key component of water resource management in the region, with a focus on promoting biodiversity and preserving natural habitats. As climate change continues to impact water resources, structures like this help in mitigating the effects and sustaining the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems. With ongoing state oversight and maintenance, the barrier remains a critical asset in safeguarding the health and vitality of the Watonwan River South Fork and its surrounding environment.
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 Fish Lake Fish Barrier -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines River At Jackson | 522 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood River Near New Ulm | 495 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At New Ulm | 2,730 cfs | → |
| Watonwan River Near Garden City | 1,380 cfs | → |
| Little Cottonwood River Near Courtland | 103 cfs | → |
| Redwood River Near Redwood Falls | 194 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fish Lake Fish Barrier.
Boat launches
- Mountain Lake Cycle Path Mountain Lake
- 140th Street 24728, Orleans
- 130th Street 3653, Emmet County
- 240th Avenue Brown County
- County Road 6 Watonwan County
- 150th Street Spirit Lake
Track Fish Lake Fish Barrier 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 Fish Lake Fish Barrier
Where does the data for Fish Lake Fish Barrier 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 Fish Lake Fish Barrier.