Prairie Lake dam
Prairie Lake
Prairie Lake in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, is a state-regulated reservoir with a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment. Built in 1936 by WPA-C, this gravity dam stands at 12 feet tall and spans 49 feet in length, serving as a vital structure on the Pelican River. With a storage capacity of 16,400 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 10,250 acre-feet, Prairie Lake covers a surface area of 1,025 acres and drains a 340-acre watershed.
The dam's primary purpose is listed as "Other," with a spillway type of "Uncontrolled" and a maximum discharge capacity of 1,840 cubic feet per second. The surrounding area, located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, is home to diverse wildlife and offers recreational opportunities for water enthusiasts. Despite its age, Prairie Lake Dam continues to be inspected and regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, ensuring its safety and functionality for the surrounding community and ecosystem.
Maintaining a moderate risk assessment level, Prairie Lake Dam remains a crucial component of the local water resource management system. With a dedicated ownership by the state and consistent inspection and enforcement protocols in place, this historic structure plays a key role in flood control, water storage, and habitat preservation along the Pelican River. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Prairie Lake is a fascinating example of sustainable infrastructure within the dynamic natural landscape of 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 Prairie Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Otter Tail River Near Elizabeth | 338 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near Hawley | 45 cfs | → |
| Otter Tail River Bl Orwell D Nr Fergus Falls | 529 cfs | → |
| South Branch Buffalo River At Sabin | 69 cfs | → |
| Red River Of The North At Wahpeton | 722 cfs | → |
| Red River Of The North At Hickson | 777 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Prairie Lake.
Boat launches
- Crystal Lake Public Water Access
- County Road 31 51047, Otter Tail County
- Blue Bell Road 43243, Otter Tail County
- Becker County
- County Highway 22 20820, Lake Eunice
- Mac Circle 33036, Otter Tail County
Campgrounds
- Sherin Memorial City Campground
- Sherin Memorial Park/Campground
- Maplewood State Park Campground
- Maplewood State Park
- Rothsay City Park
- Wagner Park
Fishing spots
Track Prairie 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 Prairie Lake
Where does the data for Prairie 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 Prairie Lake.