Ortonville Twp 15 dam
Ortonville Twp 15
Ortonville Twp 15 is a privately owned rockfill dam located in Big Stone, Minnesota, along the Minnesota River. The dam serves multiple purposes, including fire protection, stock watering, and creating a small fish pond. With a height of 27.1 feet and a storage capacity of 15.2 acre-feet, this dam plays a crucial role in water management in the area.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Ortonville Twp 15 is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite being classified as a low hazard potential structure, regular inspections are conducted every 8 years to assess its condition. The dam has not been rated for its current condition, but emergency action plans may be in place to address any potential risks.
Located in a picturesque setting in Ortonville, this dam provides a valuable water resource for the community while also supporting wildlife habitats. As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to monitor and protect such structures, Ortonville Twp 15 stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices in Minnesota.
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 Ortonville Twp 15 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota River At Ortonville | 87 cfs | → |
| Whetstone River Near Big Stone City | 69 cfs | → |
| Yellow Bank River Near Odessa | 64 cfs | → |
| Pomme De Terre River At Appleton | 211 cfs | → |
| Little Minnesota River Near Peever | 53 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 Ortonville Twp 15.
Boat launches
- Rocky Point Big Stone City
- County Road 53 Big Stone County
- Roberts County
- Swift County
- 20th Street Northwest Chippewa County
- Mn 27 4906, Traverse County
Track Ortonville Twp 15 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 Ortonville Twp 15
Where does the data for Ortonville Twp 15 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 Ortonville Twp 15.