Waller Pond dam
Waller Pond
Waller Pond, located in Whalan, Minnesota, is a privately owned Earth dam structure designed by the USDA NRCS in 1968 for flood risk reduction along the TR-Root River. The dam stands at a height of 30 feet with a hydraulic height matching that, and a structural height of 31 feet. With a length of 350 feet and a storage capacity of 18 acre-feet, Waller Pond serves multiple purposes including debris control, fire protection, and providing a habitat for stock or small fish.
Despite being uncontrolled, the spillway width of 16 feet and the low hazard potential of the dam suggest a moderate level of risk (3 out of 5) associated with its operation. With a drainage area of 0.18 square miles and a maximum discharge of 110 cubic feet per second, Waller Pond plays a crucial role in managing water flow in the region. Although the dam's condition assessment is currently not rated, its strategic location and design make it an essential piece of infrastructure for water resource management and climate resilience in Fillmore County, 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 Waller Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Root River Near Pilot Mound | 393 cfs | → |
| South Fork Zumbro River At Rochester | 108 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Houston | 829 cfs | → |
| South Fork Root River Near Houston | 158 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Winona | 29,100 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River At Bluffton | 252 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Waller Pond.
Boat launches
- Boat Launch Olmsted County
- Miller Street Howard County
- Bartlet Lake Road Winona
- Lake Winona Bike Path Winona
- Prairie Island Road Winona
Campgrounds
- Isinours Campsite
- Fillmore County Fairgrounds Campgrounds
- Riverview City Campground
- Sylvan City Park
- Highway 250 Campground
- Eagle Cliff Campground & Lodging
Fishing spots
- Bigalks Creek
- Coldwater Creek
- Dacota Street Fishing Pier
- Huff Street Fishing Pier
- Franklin St. Fishing Pier
- Pine Creek
Track Waller Pond 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 Waller Pond
Where does the data for Waller Pond 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 Waller Pond.