Round Grove Lake dam
Round Grove Lake
Round Grove Lake in McLeod County, Minnesota is a gravity dam completed in 1921 with a height of 10 feet and a storage capacity of 2552 acre-feet. The lake primarily serves as a local government-owned water resource for the residents of Arlington with a surface area of 307 acres and a drainage area of 2.74 square miles. The dam is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and is inspected regularly to ensure its fair condition and low hazard potential.
Located along Judicial Ditch 22, Round Grove Lake plays a crucial role in water management and conservation efforts in the region. With a normal storage capacity of 1595 acre-feet, the lake helps mitigate flood risks and provides recreational opportunities for the community. Despite being a small water body, Round Grove Lake contributes to the overall ecosystem health and acts as a vital resource for climate enthusiasts interested in sustainable water management practices.
As a historic dam with a rich legacy dating back to the early 20th century, Round Grove Lake showcases the importance of maintaining and regulating water resources for future generations. With its fair condition and low hazard potential, the lake stands as a testament to responsible water infrastructure management in McLeod County. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Round Grove Lake serves as a valuable example of how local governments can effectively steward vital water sources for both practical and environmental purposes.
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 Round Grove Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota River At New Ulm | 3,090 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Morton | 2,590 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood River Near New Ulm | 523 cfs | → |
| High Island Creek Near Henderson | 52 cfs | → |
| Little Cottonwood River Near Courtland | 79 cfs | → |
| Redwood River Near Redwood Falls | 142 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Round Grove Lake.
Boat launches
- Mcleod County
- Mn 7 Meeker County
- Meeker County
- Cr 21 61400, Nicollet County
- Minnecon Drive New Ulm
- New Ulm
Campgrounds
- Lake Allie Park Campground
- Lake Allie Co Park
- Lake Marion Co Park
- Lake Marion Park Campground
- Masonic West River Park
- Masonic/West River City Park
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Round Grove 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 Round Grove Lake
Where does the data for Round Grove 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 Round Grove Lake.