Pillager dam
Pillager
Pillager is a historic hydroelectric dam located in Pillager, Minnesota, along the Crow Wing River. Built in 1917, this dam stands at 22 feet tall and stretches 903 feet in length, with a maximum discharge capacity of 21,000 cubic feet per second. With a normal storage capacity of 4,608 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 4,853 acre-feet, this dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Pillager Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential due to its location and structural characteristics. Despite its age, the dam's risk assessment is rated as "Very High (1)", highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure public safety and environmental protection. The dam features a controlled spillway and two slide gates for water release, and it is subject to regular state inspection, enforcement, and permitting by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Pillager Dam offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of hydroelectric infrastructure and its impact on the surrounding ecosystem. Its location in Cass County, Minnesota, and its role in regulating water flow on the Crow Wing River make it a key player in the region's water management strategies. As efforts continue to assess and mitigate risks associated with the dam, its importance in balancing water supply, flood control, and environmental preservation becomes increasingly evident in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Pillager -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Crow Wing River Near Pillager | 1,110 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Brainerd | 2,480 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River At Nimrod | 333 cfs | → |
| Long Prairie River At Long Prairie | 163 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Royalton | 3,920 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 2,160 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pillager .
Boat launches
- Pillager Dam Road Cass County
- South Pillager Lake Drive Southwest Cass County
- 25th Avenue Southwest Sylvan
- Sylvan Dam Road Southwest Cass County
- Crow Wing County
- Cass County
Campgrounds
- Pillsbury State Forest- Walter Stark Horse Camp
- Crow Wing State Park
- Crow Wing State Park Campground
- Rock Lake Campground
- Gulf Lake- Cor Of Engineers Campground
- Crow Wing River - Alice B. Marsh
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The 25-Acre Island Just South Of Brainerd To Roscoe Island
- Blanchard Dam To Ends One Mile Downstream From The Southern Village Boundary Of Rice
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
- The Beaver Islands At St. Cloud To The Confluence Of The Clearwater River
More reservoirs
Track Pillager 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 Pillager
Where does the data for Pillager 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 High 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 Pillager .