Deer Lake dam
Deer Lake
Deer Lake, located in Itasca County, Minnesota, is a picturesque reservoir created by a gravity dam constructed in 1938 by the Works Progress Administration - Civil Works Division. The dam stands at a height of 6.1 meters, with a structural height of 8 meters and a hydraulic height of 1.7 meters. With a normal storage capacity of 248,360 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 324,984 acre-feet, Deer Lake covers a surface area of 3,958 acres and drains an area of 45 square miles through the Deer River.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Deer Lake serves a primary purpose of "Other" and is regulated by the state agency for water resources, enforcement, permitting, and inspection. The dam, with a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, is associated with the Deer River and provides essential water resource management for the surrounding area. With its tranquil waters and lush surroundings, Deer Lake is a vital water resource and a haven for wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Northwoods, Deer Lake offers a serene setting for recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and hiking. The dam's historical significance, coupled with its functional role in water management, makes Deer Lake a compelling destination for both water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking to appreciate the intersection of nature and infrastructure in Minnesota's stunning landscape.
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 Deer Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 489 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 274 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Bemidji | 208 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Deer Lake.
⚓ Boat launches
More boat launches →⛺ Campgrounds
- Bowstring State F -Orest Moose Lake
- Moose Lake - Bowstring State Forest
- Cottonwood Lake - Bowstring State Forest
- Bowstring State Forest-- Cottonwood Lake
- Pug Hole Wayside Park
- Pokegama-Coe
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
- Dora Lake To State Highway 6
- Cass Lake To Lake Winnibigoshish
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
- The Otter Tail Powerplant To Allen's Bay
Track Deer 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 Deer Lake
Where does the data for Deer 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 Deer Lake.