Albert Lea Lake dam
Albert Lea Lake
Albert Lea Lake, also known as Jugland, is a man-made reservoir located in Freeborn County, Minnesota, near the city of Glenville. This gravity dam, completed in 1923, serves multiple purposes, including flood control and recreational activities. With a height of 12 feet and a storage capacity of 15,945 acre-feet, the dam helps regulate the flow of the Shell Rock River and provides a surface area of 2,698 acres for water-based activities.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Albert Lea Lake has a low hazard potential and is considered to be in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in 2015. The dam's primary purpose is to act as a barrier for water management, with a normal storage capacity of 8,586 acre-feet. The reservoir's location, surrounded by scenic landscapes and wildlife habitats, makes it a popular destination for fishing, boating, and birdwatching, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
With its historical significance and impact on the local ecosystem, Albert Lea Lake stands as a testament to sustainable water management practices in Minnesota. The dam's design and construction by BARR have contributed to the overall well-being of the Shell Rock River watershed, showcasing the importance of maintaining and preserving vital water resources for future generations to enjoy and appreciate.
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 Albert Lea Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar River Near Austin | 173 cfs | → |
| Winnebago River At Mason City | 501 cfs | → |
| Straight River Near Faribault | 286 cfs | → |
| Cedar River At Charles City | 627 cfs | → |
| Le Sueur River Near Rapidan | 3,650 cfs | → |
| South Fork Zumbro River At Rochester | 159 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Albert Lea Lake.
Track Albert Lea 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 Albert Lea Lake
Where does the data for Albert Lea 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 Albert Lea Lake.