Movil Lake dam
Movil Lake
Movil Lake, located in Turtle River, Minnesota, is a state-owned reservoir with a primary purpose classified as "Other." The dam at Movil Lake is a gravity dam with a structural height of 12 feet and a hydraulic height of 1.75 feet. Completed in 1938, the dam has a maximum storage capacity of 19,018 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 853 acres. The reservoir is fed by the Turtle River and has a drainage area of 56.4 square miles.
Despite being a low hazard potential structure, Movil Lake has not been recently rated for its condition. The last inspection took place in October 2007, with a scheduled inspection frequency of every 8 years. The reservoir has not been modified in recent years, and no emergency action plan (EAP) has been prepared or updated. Movil Lake provides important water storage for the region and contributes to the management of water resources in Beltrami County, Minnesota. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Movil Lake represents a historic infrastructure project that continues to serve its intended purpose.
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 Movil Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River Near Bemidji | 234 cfs | → |
| Red Lake River Near Red Lake | 213 cfs | → |
| Lost River At Oklee | 48 cfs | → |
| Straight River Near Park Rapids | 46 cfs | → |
| Red Lake River At High Landing Nr Goodridge | 308 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Movil Lake.
Boat launches
- Three Island Access Northeast Beltrami County
- Farley Drive Northeast 8999, Beltrami County
- Bemidji Road Northeast Beltrami County
- Tall Pines Road Northeast Beltrami County
- Pintail Lane Northeast 5402, Beltrami County
- Cameron Park
Campgrounds
- Lake Bemidji State Park Campground
- Pine Tree City Park Campground
- Webster Lake
- Bimijiwan (Formerly Knutson Dam) Recreation Area
- Knutson Dam Campground
- Knutson Dam
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Otter Tail Powerplant To Allen's Bay
- The Iron Bridge Of County Road 7 To Lake Bemidji
- Cass Lake To Lake Winnibigoshish
- The Outlet Of Lake Itasca To The Iron Bridge Of County Road 7
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
- Dora Lake To State Highway 6
More reservoirs
Track Movil Lake 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 Movil Lake
Where does the data for Movil Lake 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 Movil Lake.