East Twin Lake dam
East Twin Lake
East Twin Lake, located in Lincoln County, Minnesota, is a state-regulated body of water with a dam constructed in 2004. The dam, a buttress type structure with a height of 8 feet, serves to provide storage capacity for the lake, with a maximum capacity of 300 acre-feet. The lake covers an area of 13 acres and has a drainage area of 2.48 square miles.
With its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment as of March 2017, East Twin Lake is a key component of the local water resource management infrastructure. The dam is regularly inspected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, ensuring its safe operation for flood control and water storage purposes. The lake's location within the Omaha District underscores its importance in the regional water management framework.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, East Twin Lake presents an intriguing case study in dam construction and management. Its role in regulating water flow and providing storage capacity showcases the intersection of human infrastructure with natural ecosystems. As the climate continues to change, understanding and monitoring the impact of structures like the East Twin Lake dam will be crucial in ensuring sustainable water resource management for the future.
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 East Twin Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Sioux River Near Bruce | 265 cfs | → |
| Redwood River Near Marshall | 34 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux River Near Brookings Sd | 242 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux R Near Castlewood Sd | 113 cfs | → |
| Flandreau Cr Above Flandreau Sd | 2 cfs | → |
| Lac Qui Parle River Near Lac Qui Parle | 193 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near East Twin Lake.
Boat launches
- West Cottage Avenue Hendricks
- County Road 14 1104, Lincoln County
- Brookings County
- Deuel County
- Picnic Point Road Lincoln County
Track East Twin 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 East Twin Lake
Where does the data for East Twin 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 East Twin Lake.