Clay-Boswell dam
Clay-Boswell
Clay-Boswell is a significant earth dam located in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, along the Mississippi River. Owned by a public utility, the dam stands at a height of 50 feet and spans a length of 20,000 feet, with a storage capacity of 8,250 acre-feet. The dam serves a primary purpose that is classified as "Other," and its condition assessment as of August 2009 is deemed satisfactory, with a significant hazard potential.
The state-regulated Clay-Boswell dam is subject to inspection, permitting, and enforcement by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. It is situated in Itasca County and falls under the jurisdiction of the St. Paul District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in September 2011, and it meets guidelines for risk management. Despite a minimal drainage area of 0.13 square miles, the dam's surface area covers 464 acres, emphasizing its role in water resource management in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Clay-Boswell presents a fascinating case study of dam infrastructure in Minnesota. Its location on the Mississippi River, coupled with its significant hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts. With a diverse array of regulatory agencies overseeing its operations, this earth dam serves as a crucial piece of the water management puzzle in Itasca County, showcasing the intersection of engineering, environmental stewardship, and public safety along one of America's most iconic rivers.
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 Clay-Boswell -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 550 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 202 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 2,240 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Bemidji | 217 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Clay-Boswell.
Boat launches
- Guile Lake
- Clay Boswell Boat Launch Area
- Columbia Street 262, Cohasset
- Jay Gould Lake
- Long Lake
- Little White Oak Lake
Campgrounds
- Pokegama-Coe
- Pokegama Rec Area
- Group Camp G1
- Schoolcraft State Park
- Itasca County Fairgrounds
- Itasca County Fairgrouds Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
- Dora Lake To State Highway 6
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
- Cass Lake To Lake Winnibigoshish
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
Track Clay-Boswell 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 Clay-Boswell
Where does the data for Clay-Boswell 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 Significant 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 Clay-Boswell.