Lehmann Detention dam
Lehmann Detention
Lehmann Detention, located in Dawson, Minnesota, is a rockfill dam designed for flood risk reduction on the Lac Qui Parle-TR river. Owned by a private entity, this dam stands at a height of 17.5 feet and has a storage capacity of 52 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment that is currently not rated, Lehmann Detention plays a crucial role in safeguarding the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Lehmann Detention is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. Despite not having a designated year of completion, this dam provides vital flood protection for the residents of Lincoln County, Minnesota. With its primary purpose being flood risk reduction, Lehmann Detention serves as a key infrastructure for managing water resources in the region, ensuring the safety and security of the local community.
The dam, with a normal storage capacity of 6 acre-feet and a surface area of 3 acres, is part of the Omaha District under the US Army Corps of Engineers. With no associated structures and a relatively low inspection frequency of 8 years, Lehmann Detention is a critical component of the water resource management system in Minnesota. As climate change continues to impact weather patterns, structures like Lehmann Detention will play an increasingly vital role in protecting communities from the risks of flooding and ensuring sustainable water management practices.
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 Lehmann Detention -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Sioux River Near Bruce | 265 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux R Near Castlewood Sd | 113 cfs | → |
| Redwood River Near Marshall | 34 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux River Near Brookings Sd | 242 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 Lehmann Detention.
Boat launches
- West Cottage Avenue Hendricks
- County Road 14 1104, Lincoln County
- Deuel County
- Brookings County
- Picnic Point Road Lincoln County
- 458th Avenue Hamlin County
Track Lehmann 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 Lehmann Detention
Where does the data for Lehmann 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 Lehmann Detention.