Twp Road 87 dam
Twp Road 87
Twp Road 87 is a flood risk reduction structure located in Marshall, Minnesota, along the Yellow Medicine River. Completed in 1995, this earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet and has a total length of 400 feet. With a storage capacity of 300 acre-feet, it serves the primary purpose of mitigating flood risks in the area. The dam is state-regulated and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its satisfactory condition.
Owned by the local government, Twp Road 87 is designed to handle a maximum discharge of 2300 cubic feet per second and has a low hazard potential. The structure is equipped with uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates, with a spillway width of 12 feet. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam has been deemed satisfactory in terms of condition. It is located in Lincoln County, Minnesota, and falls under the jurisdiction of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Twp Road 87 to be a fascinating example of flood risk reduction infrastructure in Minnesota. Its location along the Yellow Medicine River, its design characteristics, and its regulatory oversight by state agencies make it a crucial component in managing water resources in the region. With its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Twp Road 87 stands as a reliable structure for protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
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 87 -- 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 | 1 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux River Near Brookings Sd | 280 cfs | → |
| Yellow Medicine River Near Granite Falls | 162 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux River Near Bruce | 250 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Montevideo | 1,530 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Twp Road 87.
Boat launches
- Picnic Point Road Lincoln County
- West Cottage Avenue Hendricks
- County Road 14 1104, Lincoln County
- Brookings County
- Deuel County
Track Twp Road 87 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 87
Where does the data for Twp Road 87 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 87.