Spooner Group Detention dam
Spooner Group Detention
Spooner Group Detention is a private water resource structure located in Winona, Minnesota, specifically designed for flood risk reduction along Gilmore Creek. Completed in 1986, this earth dam stands at a height of 38 feet and spans 400 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 59.3 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, the dam is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its continued effectiveness in mitigating flood risks in the area.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway type and has a maximum discharge capacity of 586 cubic feet per second. It is situated within the St. Paul District of the US Army Corps of Engineers jurisdiction and falls under the supervision of the state regulatory agency MNDNR EWR. The surrounding community benefits from the flood protection provided by Spooner Group Detention, with the primary purpose of the structure being to safeguard against potential flood events and minimize the impact on nearby residents and infrastructure. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
Overall, Spooner Group Detention serves as a vital infrastructure asset for flood risk reduction in Winona, Minnesota. Through its effective design and regular maintenance, the dam helps protect the local community from potential flooding events, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource management practices in the face of changing climate conditions. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of structures like Spooner Group Detention is essential in fostering resilience and adaptation strategies to address the challenges posed by a changing climate and increasing water-related risks.
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 Spooner Group Detention -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Winona | 32,600 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Dodge | 608 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Houston | 840 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Arcadia | 541 cfs | → |
| South Fork Root River Near Houston | 179 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Galesville | 1,190 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spooner Group Detention.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Prairie Island Campground
- Prairie Island City Campground
- Pla-Mor Campground
- Merrick State Park
- Group Tent Campsite
- Perrot State Park Campground
Fishing spots
- Dacota Street Fishing Pier
- Huff Street Fishing Pier
- Franklin St. Fishing Pier
- Coldwater Creek
- Bigalks Creek
- Pine Creek
Track Spooner Group 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 Spooner Group Detention
Where does the data for Spooner Group 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 Spooner Group Detention.