Lake Calhoun Diversion dam
Lake Calhoun Diversion
Lake Calhoun Diversion, located in Crow River, Minnesota, is a gravity dam completed in 1937 with a height of 10 feet and a hydraulic height of 4.4 feet. The dam serves as a crucial structure for water resource management, with a normal storage capacity of 75 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 90 acre-feet. With a drainage area of 151.6 square miles, the dam plays a significant role in regulating water flow and ensuring downstream water availability.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Lake Calhoun Diversion is state-regulated and undergoes regular inspections to maintain its fair condition and low hazard potential. The dam primarily serves "Other" purposes and is designed as a buttress gravity dam, spanning 18 feet in length and covering a surface area of 617 acres. Despite its age, the dam continues to efficiently contribute to flood control measures and water storage in the region, highlighting its importance in the overall water resource infrastructure.
With its historical significance and ongoing operational relevance, Lake Calhoun Diversion stands as a testament to effective water management practices in Minnesota. The dam's presence on the Crow River Middle Fork not only ensures water availability for various stakeholders but also showcases the state's commitment to maintaining critical infrastructure for climate resilience. As climate change impacts continue to challenge water resources, Lake Calhoun Diversion remains a vital component in safeguarding the region's water security and adaptation efforts.
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 Lake Calhoun Diversion -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sauk River Near St. Cloud | 497 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At St. Cloud | 4,910 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Royalton | 3,920 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Milan | 668 cfs | → |
| Long Prairie River At Long Prairie | 163 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Montevideo | 1,530 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Calhoun Diversion.
Boat launches
- 187th Avenue Northeast 8138, Kandiyohi County
- County Road 9 Northeast 19500, New London
- Bluefield Road Stearns County
- 132nd Avenue Northeast 4303, Kandiyohi County
- Cedar Point Road 15561, Stearns County
- Beachside Road Meeker County
Campgrounds
- Green Lake County Park Campground
- Diamond Lake County Park Campgrounds
- Sandy Point Park
- Lake Koronis Regional Park
- Sibley State Park Campground
- Grove City Park Campground
Track Lake Calhoun Diversion 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 Lake Calhoun Diversion
Where does the data for Lake Calhoun Diversion 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 Lake Calhoun Diversion.