Pigeon Lake dam
Pigeon Lake
Pigeon Lake, located in Itasca County, Minnesota, is a serene body of water created by the Pigeon Flowage. This man-made lake was formed in 1937 with the construction of a gravity dam that stands at a height of 9 feet and spans 27 feet in length. The dam serves a primary purpose of "Other" and has a low hazard potential, with a satisfactory condition assessment as of May 2009.
Managed by the St. Paul District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Pigeon Lake offers a peaceful retreat for water resource and climate enthusiasts. With a normal storage capacity of 50 acre-feet and a drainage area fed by the Pigeon Flowage, this lake provides a vital habitat for local wildlife and a recreational haven for visitors. Despite not being state-regulated or permitted, the dam at Pigeon Lake continues to operate efficiently with no major concerns reported during inspections.
Surrounded by the natural beauty of Minnesota, Pigeon Lake stands as a testament to sustainable water resource management and engineering ingenuity. As a federally-owned and maintained site, the lake remains a picturesque destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature while appreciating the careful balance of human intervention and environmental stewardship.
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 Pigeon Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River Near Bemidji | 264 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 580 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 212 cfs | → |
| Big Fork River At Big Falls | 633 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pigeon Lake.
Boat launches
- Pigeon Dam Lake
- Cut Foot Sioux Lake, Deer Lake
- Cut Foot Sioux Lake, #2
- County Highway 33 Itasca County
- Itasca County
- Cut Foot Sioux Lake, Mosomo
Campgrounds
- Deer Lake
- North Deer Lake Campground
- West Seelye Bay
- West Seelye Bay Campground
- East Seelye Bay Campground
- East Seelye Bay
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
- Cass Lake To Lake Winnibigoshish
- Dora Lake To State Highway 6
- The Otter Tail Powerplant To Allen's Bay
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
- The Iron Bridge Of County Road 7 To Lake Bemidji
Track Pigeon 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 Pigeon Lake
Where does the data for Pigeon 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 Pigeon Lake.