Spike Lake dam
Spike Lake
Spike Lake, located in Clearwater County, Minnesota, is a state-regulated fish and wildlife pond with a concrete dam measuring 8 feet in height. Built in 1938 by the Works Progress Administration Civilian Conservation Corps Workers, the dam has a structural height of 8 feet and a spillway width of 10 feet. The lake has a storage capacity of 2123 acre-feet and covers an area of 80 acres, serving as a habitat for various wildlife species.
Maintained by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Spike Lake is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and safety. With a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the lake poses a moderate risk and is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway. Despite its age, Spike Lake continues to provide essential support for the local ecosystem and remains a valuable resource for water and climate enthusiasts interested in the conservation of fish and wildlife habitats in the region.
Visitors to Spike Lake can enjoy its scenic beauty and observe the diverse flora and fauna that thrive in and around the waterbody. The lake's role as a fish and wildlife pond underscores its significance in supporting biodiversity and promoting ecological balance in the surrounding area. As a state-owned and regulated water resource, Spike Lake represents a harmonious blend of conservation efforts and recreational opportunities for nature enthusiasts to appreciate and protect 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 Spike Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red Lake River Near Red Lake | 207 cfs | → |
| Lost River At Oklee | 42 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Bemidji | 217 cfs | → |
| Red Lake River At High Landing Nr Goodridge | 254 cfs | → |
| Clearwater River At Plummer | 84 cfs | → |
| Judicial Ditch 64 Near Mentor | 43 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spike Lake.
Boat launches
- Reservation Hwy 36 Clearwater County
- Lasley Road Beltrami County
- Mn 1; Mn 89 Beltrami County
- Mn 1; Mn 89 Clearwater County
- Mckenzie Road Red Lake
- Redby
Campgrounds
- Clearbrook City Park
- Bagley City Park Campground
- Tilberg Park
- Spring Lake City Park
- Fosston City Campground
- Lake Bemidji State Park Campground
Fishing spots
Track Spike Lake 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 Spike Lake
Where does the data for Spike Lake 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 Spike Lake.