Stanchfield Lake dam
Stanchfield Lake
Stanchfield Lake, located in Morrison County, Minnesota, is a gravity dam constructed in 1956 primarily for flood risk reduction purposes. The dam stands at a height of 12 feet and has a length of 48 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 1450 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 1785 acre-feet. The lake covers a surface area of 38 acres and is situated along the Crow Wing River, providing essential water resource management in the region.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR EWR), Stanchfield Lake is under state jurisdiction with regulatory agencies overseeing permitting, inspection, and enforcement protocols. The dam is classified as having a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment as of August 2017. While the dam does not have associated locks or spillways, it serves as a vital component in the overall flood risk reduction strategy for the area, with a maximum discharge capacity of 140 cubic feet per second.
Despite its modest size and low hazard potential, Stanchfield Lake plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding community from flooding events. With its strategic location along the Crow Wing River and efficient water management practices, the lake serves as a testament to sustainable resource utilization and climate resilience in Morrison County. Water resource and climate enthusiasts would find Stanchfield Lake to be a fascinating example of innovative infrastructure designed to mitigate flooding risks and safeguard the environment for future generations.
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 Stanchfield Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Crow Wing River Near Pillager | 1,070 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Brainerd | 2,250 cfs | → |
| Long Prairie River At Long Prairie | 157 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River At Nimrod | 322 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Royalton | 3,990 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 2,040 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Stanchfield Lake.
Boat launches
- Pillager Dam Road Cass County
- South Pillager Lake Drive Southwest Cass County
- 25th Avenue Southwest Sylvan
- Sylvan Dam Road Southwest Cass County
- Sleepy Hollow Road Crow Wing County
- Crow Wing County
Campgrounds
- Pillsbury State Forest- Walter Stark Horse Camp
- Crow Wing State Park
- Crow Wing State Park Campground
- Rock Lake Campground
- Crow Wing River - Alice B. Marsh
- Crow Wing River - Peter Card
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The 25-Acre Island Just South Of Brainerd To Roscoe Island
- Blanchard Dam To Ends One Mile Downstream From The Southern Village Boundary Of Rice
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
- The Beaver Islands At St. Cloud To The Confluence Of The Clearwater River
Track Stanchfield 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 Stanchfield Lake
Where does the data for Stanchfield 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 Stanchfield Lake.