Wabana dam
Wabana
Wabana, located in Itasca, Minnesota, is a federal-owned earth dam completed in 1969 with a height of 13 feet and a length of 270 feet. It has a storage capacity of 52 acre-feet and serves the primary purpose of water resource management. The dam has a low hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition assessment.
Despite not being state-regulated, Wabana plays a crucial role in the local water ecosystem, with a normal storage capacity of 30 acre-feet and a surface area of 10 acres. The dam controls a drainage area of 2 square miles and has a maximum discharge of 248 cubic feet per second. While it has not been inspected since September 2016, the dam is considered to have a low risk potential, with emergency action plans and risk management measures yet to be fully assessed.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Wabana to be an intriguing structure in the heart of Minnesota, serving as a vital component of the local water management system. With its historical significance dating back to the late 1960s, this earth dam continues to provide essential water storage and control capabilities for the surrounding area. As discussions around climate change and water resource sustainability grow, Wabana stands as a testament to the importance of effective dam infrastructure in maintaining ecological balance and water security.
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 Wabana -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 202 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 550 cfs | → |
| Big Fork River At Big Falls | 618 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wabana.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Pug Hole Wayside Park
- Moose Lake - Bowstring State Forest
- Bowstring State Forest-- Cottonwood Lake
- Cottonwood Lake - Bowstring State Forest
- Bowstring State F -Orest Moose Lake
- North Star
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
- Dora Lake To State Highway 6
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
- Cass Lake To Lake Winnibigoshish
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
Track Wabana 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 Wabana
Where does the data for Wabana 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 Wabana.