Clear Dark Little Lakes dam
Clear Dark Little Lakes
Clear Dark Little Lakes, located in Koochiching, Minnesota, is a state-regulated dam constructed in 1958 for purposes other than flood control. This gravity dam stands at 7 feet tall and spans 12 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 2904 acre-feet and a surface area of 78 acres. The dam is situated on the Lost River-TR stream and falls under the jurisdiction of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for permitting, inspection, and enforcement.
Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Clear Dark Little Lakes plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and storage in the region. With a maximum discharge of 205 cubic feet per second, the dam contributes to the management of the 3.1 square mile drainage area. While the dam has not undergone recent modifications, its last inspection in August 2017 revealed its operational integrity, ensuring its continued function in water resource management for the community of GREMMEL.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts monitoring Clear Dark Little Lakes can appreciate the dam's historical significance and practical contribution to the local ecosystem. As part of the St. Paul District's infrastructure, the dam serves as a key feature in the region's water management strategy, highlighting the collaborative efforts between state agencies and the local community to maintain sustainable water resources. With its regulated state ownership and adherence to inspection and enforcement protocols, Clear Dark Little Lakes stands as a testament to responsible dam operations in Minnesota's 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 Clear Dark Little Lakes -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Fork River At Big Falls | 580 cfs | → |
| Little Fork River At Littlefork | 1,140 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Bemidji | 225 cfs | → |
| Rapid River Near Baudette | 295 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 187 cfs | → |
| Red Lake River Near Red Lake | 203 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Clear Dark Little Lakes.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Noma Lake Campground
- Paul Bunyan Memorial Park
- Sturgeon River State Forest Landing
- Big Falls City
- Pine Island Sf - Benn Lynn Landing
- T And N Inn Lodging And Campground
Fishing spots
- Bartlett Lake
- Ackerman Lakes
- Bearpawguides On Upper Red Lake
- Alice Lake
- Bass (South Island) Lake
- Amik Lake
Track Clear Dark Little Lakes 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 Clear Dark Little Lakes
Where does the data for Clear Dark Little Lakes 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 Clear Dark Little Lakes.