South Branch Wild Rice Upper dam
South Branch Wild Rice Upper
South Branch Wild Rice Upper, also known as Upper Dam, is a key structure managed by local government in Ogema, Minnesota. Built in 1981 by Houston Eng, this earth dam stands at a height of 34 feet and spans 4700 feet along the Wild Rice River South Branch. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, providing a storage capacity of 13,380 acre-feet over a surface area of 1,084 acres to protect the surrounding area from potential inundation.
This dam is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, ensuring that it meets necessary standards for inspection, permitting, and enforcement. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, the dam undergoes regular inspections every four years to maintain its structural integrity and safety. Located in Becker County, Minnesota, this structure plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region and mitigating flood risks for the community of Ogema.
With a drainage area of 43 square miles and a history of successful flood risk reduction, South Branch Wild Rice Upper exemplifies the importance of effective water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns. As climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates, understanding the role of dams like this in safeguarding communities and ecosystems against flooding is essential for sustainable development and resilience in the face of climate change.
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 South Branch Wild Rice Upper -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Rice River At Twin Valley | 229 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near Hawley | 45 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near Dilworth | 121 cfs | → |
| South Branch Buffalo River At Sabin | 69 cfs | → |
| Red River Of The North At Fargo | 873 cfs | → |
| Wild Rice River At Hendrum | 244 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Branch Wild Rice Upper.
Boat launches
- Sugar Maple Lane 29299, Becker County
- County Road 143 Becker County
- West Lake Drive Detroit Lakes
- West Lake Drive 1360, Detroit Lakes
- Heartland Trail Detroit Lakes
- County Highway 22 20820, Lake Eunice
Campgrounds
- Heiberg Park
- Heiberg Park Campground
- American Legion Park - Detroit Lakes
- Buffalo River State Park
- Bosworth City Park
Fishing spots
Track South Branch Wild Rice Upper 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 South Branch Wild Rice Upper
Where does the data for South Branch Wild Rice Upper 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 South Branch Wild Rice Upper.