Sandy Lock And Dam dam
Sandy Lock And Dam
Sandy Lock and Dam, located in Libby, Minnesota, is a crucial federal structure managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Built in 1895 on the Sandy River, this Earth-type dam serves multiple purposes such as flood risk reduction, navigation, and water supply. With a height of 14 feet and a length of 109 feet, the dam holds a normal storage capacity of 38,000 acre-feet in the Sandy Lake Reservoir.
Despite being classified as a low hazard potential structure, Sandy Lock and Dam is subject to various flood risks that the USACE actively manages. By continuously monitoring the dam's condition, prioritizing risk-reducing activities, and collaborating with local emergency managers, the USACE ensures the safety and functionality of the structure. Additionally, the USACE regularly updates the emergency action plan and conducts maintenance to mitigate potential issues and maintain the dam's structural integrity.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the risk management measures employed at Sandy Lock and Dam provides valuable insight into the complexities of maintaining and safeguarding critical infrastructure. By staying informed about the dam's operations and potential risks, enthusiasts can contribute to efforts aimed at protecting communities and ecosystems in the face of changing climatic conditions and severe weather events.
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 Sandy Lock And Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 2,450 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 550 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 231 cfs | → |
| St. Louis River At Scanlon | 3,410 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Brainerd | 2,810 cfs | → |
| Kettle River Below Sandstone | 471 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sandy Lock And Dam.
Boat launches
- 561st Lane Aitkin County
- State Highway 65 Aitkin County
- Public Access Road Aitkin County
- Aitkin County
- 206th Place Aitkin County
- Loon Avenue 63508, Aitkin County
Campgrounds
- Sandy Lake-Coe
- Savanna Portage State Park Campground
- Hay Lake Campground
- Savanna State Forest -Hay Lake
- Jacobson County Campground
- Jacobson Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
- Carlton County State Aid Highway #12 Bridge To The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
- Upper Saint Louis
- The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam To The Confluence With St. Croix River
Track Sandy Lock And Dam 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 Sandy Lock And Dam
Where does the data for Sandy Lock And Dam 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 Sandy Lock And Dam.