Chokio Detention dam
Chokio Detention
Chokio Detention, also known as Clark Lakebed, is a flood risk reduction structure located in Chokio, Minnesota. Owned and regulated by the local government, this earth dam was completed in 2001 by WSN ENG and is designed to mitigate flooding along Muddy Creek. With a dam height of 17 feet and a length of 1350 feet, Chokio Detention has a storage capacity of 2500 acre-feet and serves a drainage area of 12.9 square miles.
The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, and it is classified as a low hazard potential structure with a satisfactory condition assessment. Despite being uncontrolled, the spillway has a width of 28 feet to handle a maximum discharge of 3600 cubic feet per second. The structure's normal storage capacity is 94 acre-feet, with a surface area of 109 acres. Chokio Detention is inspected every 8 years, with the last assessment conducted in August 2017, meeting regulatory standards set by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Overall, Chokio Detention plays a crucial role in managing flood risks in the region, protecting surrounding areas from potential inundation. With its strategic location and design features, this earth dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management and climate resilience efforts in Stevens County, Minnesota.
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 Chokio Detention -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota River At Ortonville | 84 cfs | → |
| Whetstone River Near Big Stone City | 72 cfs | → |
| Yellow Bank River Near Odessa | 71 cfs | → |
| Pomme De Terre River At Appleton | 228 cfs | → |
| Bois De Sioux River Near White Rock | 5 cfs | → |
| Little Minnesota River Near Peever | 58 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chokio Detention.
Boat launches
- Swift County
- County Road 53 Big Stone County
- Rocky Point Big Stone City
- Roberts County
- T149 5800, Traverse County
Track Chokio Detention 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 Chokio Detention
Where does the data for Chokio Detention 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 Chokio Detention.