Ely Lake dam
Ely Lake
Ely Lake, located in St. Louis County, Minnesota, is a picturesque reservoir with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam, completed in 1939, is a gravity structure with a height of 6 feet and a length of 34 feet. The lake has a normal storage capacity of 55,620 acre-feet and a surface area of 780 acres, making it an ideal location for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy water-based activities.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Ely Lake is regulated and monitored for safety, with inspections conducted every 8 years. The hazard potential of the dam is considered low, and its condition is assessed as satisfactory. Despite its relatively low risk, the lake's drainage area and maximum discharge rate of 925 cubic feet per second contribute to a very high risk assessment ranking.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Ely Lake offers not only a beautiful recreational spot but also a fascinating case study in dam management and risk assessment. With its controlled spillway and history dating back to the Works Progress Administration-Civilian (WPA-C), Ely Lake provides a valuable example of how human intervention in natural water systems can create opportunities for enjoyment while also requiring careful monitoring and maintenance to ensure safety and sustainability in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Ely Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Kawishiwi R Abv White Iron Lake Nr Ely | 1,520 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 162 cfs | → |
| South Kawishiwi River Near Ely | 942 cfs | → |
| Knife River Near Two Harbors | 74 cfs | → |
| St. Louis River At Scanlon | 3,220 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 431 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ely Lake.
Boat launches
- Ore-Be-Gone Drive Gilbert
- Miller Trunk Road Saint Louis County
- North 9th Avenue West Virginia
- Mesabi Trail Biwabik
- Mesabi Trail , Buhl
- 6th Street Northeast , Chisholm
Campgrounds
- Sherwood Forest Campground
- Sherwood Forest City Campground
- Vermilion Trail Park Campground
- Vermilion Trail
- West Two River
- Buhl Rv Park
Fishing spots
Track Ely 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 Ely Lake
Where does the data for Ely 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 Ely Lake.