Portage Lake dam
Portage Lake
Portage Lake, located in Hubbard County, Minnesota, is a gravity dam constructed in 1938 with a primary purpose that falls under the "Other" category. The dam stands at 12 feet tall, with a hydraulic height of 6 feet and a structural height of 12 feet. It has a storage capacity of 5,320 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 422 acres, serving as a crucial water resource in the region.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR EWR), Portage Lake is regularly inspected, with the last assessment conducted in May 2014, showing a satisfactory condition and low hazard potential. The dam's drainage area is 4.9 square miles, with a maximum discharge capacity of 300 cubic feet per second. While the dam does not have associated locks or spillways, it plays a vital role in regulating water levels and supporting the surrounding ecosystem.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate Portage Lake for its historical significance and contribution to water management in the area. With its serene location near the Portage River and the town of Park Rapids, the dam serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible water infrastructure maintenance and regulation for sustainable resource utilization in Minnesota.
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 Portage Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Straight River Near Park Rapids | 44 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River At Nimrod | 354 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Bemidji | 281 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Portage Lake.
⚓ Boat launches
- Grouse Road 19800, Hubbard County
- Mill Avenue Osage
- Hubbard County
- County 109 Hubbard County
- 1st Street Southwest Menahga
- Pine Point
⛺ Campgrounds
- Hungryman Lake- Two Inlets State Forest
- Hungryman Forest Campground
- Mantrap - Paul Bunyan State Forest
- Mantrap Lake - Paul Bunyan State Forest
- Mantrap Lake Campground
- Huntersville Sf - Shell City Landing
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- The Outlet Of Lake Itasca To The Iron Bridge Of County Road 7
- The Iron Bridge Of County Road 7 To Lake Bemidji
- The Otter Tail Powerplant To Allen's Bay
- Cass Lake To Lake Winnibigoshish
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Portage 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 Portage Lake
Where does the data for Portage 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 Portage Lake.