Sherco dam
Sherco
Sherco is a public utility located in Becker, Minnesota, along the Mississippi River. The dam, primarily used for purposes other than flood control or hydropower generation, stands at a height of 39 feet and has a storage capacity of 3,200 acre-feet. With a surface area of 100 acres, Sherco plays a crucial role in water resource management in the Sherburne County region.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Sherco is considered to have a significant hazard potential, but its condition assessment in 2013 deemed it satisfactory. Regular inspections are conducted, with the last one taking place in November 2017. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment details are currently not available, highlighting the need for further monitoring and assessment to ensure the safety and resilience of this vital water resource infrastructure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Sherco represents a key piece of infrastructure in the region's water management system. Its location on the Mississippi River and its role in storing and regulating water flow make it a focal point for understanding the intersection of water resources, infrastructure, and environmental stewardship. As efforts to address climate change and enhance water security continue, Sherco serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable water management practices and the ongoing need for monitoring and maintenance of critical infrastructure.
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 Sherco -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Elk River Near Big Lake | 246 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At St. Cloud | 5,460 cfs | → |
| Crow River At Rockford | 1,640 cfs | → |
| Sauk River Near St. Cloud | 531 cfs | → |
| Rum River Near St. Francis | 586 cfs | → |
| Elm Creek Nr Champlin | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sherco.
Boat launches
- Us 10 Sherburne County
- State Highway 24 Clearwater
- 159th Street Northwest 22401, Sherburne County
- County Road 35 West Buffalo
- Lake Boulevard South Buffalo
- Beaver Islands Trail St. Cloud
Campgrounds
- Canoe-In Campsite
- Joyner Airport
- Lake Maria State Park Campground
- Sand Dunes State Forest-- Bob Dunn Horse Camp
- Ann Lake - Sand Dunes State Forest
- Ann Lake Campground
Track Sherco 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 Sherco
Where does the data for Sherco 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 Sherco.