Dobbins Creek dam
Dobbins Creek
Dobbins Creek, also known as East Side Lake, is a gravity dam located in Mower County, Minnesota. Managed by the local government, this recreational dam was completed in 1934 and stands at a height of 15 feet. With a normal storage capacity of 400 acre-feet and a surface area of 40 acres, Dobbins Creek serves as a popular spot for water recreation in the city of Austin.
The dam, with its buttress core type and unlisted/unknown foundation, plays a crucial role in regulating the flow of Dobbins Creek and providing water storage for the surrounding area. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, regular inspections are conducted to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam's location within the Rock Island District and its state-regulated status demonstrate the importance of its role in water resource management in Minnesota.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Dobbins Creek to be a fascinating structure that not only enhances recreational opportunities but also contributes to the overall water management in the area. With its historical significance dating back to the 1930s, this gravity dam continues to play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance and water supply for the community.
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 Dobbins Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar River Near Austin | 173 cfs | → |
| South Fork Zumbro River At Rochester | 159 cfs | → |
| Winnebago River At Mason City | 501 cfs | → |
| Straight River Near Faribault | 286 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Charles City | 627 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Pilot Mound | 393 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dobbins Creek.
Boat launches
- Oakland Place Northeast Austin
- West Richway Drive 630, Albert Lea
- Finch Avenue Worth County
- Wapsi Great Western Line Mitchell County
- Worth County
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- The Minnesota-Iowa State Border To Ends Near The Town Of Bluffton, Iowa
- The Town Of Bluffton To The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek
More reservoirs
Track Dobbins Creek 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 Dobbins Creek
Where does the data for Dobbins Creek 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 Dobbins Creek.