Sawyer Pool dam
Sawyer Pool
Sawyer Pool, located in Carlton, Minnesota, is a state-regulated water resource managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Built in 1971 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 12 feet and has a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is listed as "Other," with a low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment.
The dam impounds water from the Bob Lake-TR stream and serves various purposes, including recreation, wildlife management, and flood control. Despite its uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, Sawyer Pool remains a crucial infrastructure in the region, with a maximum discharge of 180 cubic feet per second. The dam is regularly inspected every 8 years to ensure its safety and effectiveness in managing water resources in the area.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Sawyer Pool plays a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance and water supply in the region. With moderate risk assessment and state jurisdiction, this dam continues to be a significant asset in water resource management in Atkinson, 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 Sawyer Pool -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis River At Scanlon | 2,770 cfs | → |
| Nemadji River Near South Superior | 508 cfs | → |
| Kettle River Below Sandstone | 476 cfs | → |
| St. Croix River Near Danbury | 1,320 cfs | → |
| Knife River Near Two Harbors | 121 cfs | → |
| Bois Brule River At Brule | 167 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sawyer Pool.
Boat launches
- Saint Louis River -- Oliver - Sajac Memorial Park Access
- Midway Road Saint Louis County
- Woodstock Bay
- Saint Louis River -- Arrowhead Fishing Pier Access
- Pokegama River -- Access
- Billings Park Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Spafford City Park Campground
- Barnum City Park Campground
- Barnum City Park
- Bear Lake County Park Campground
- Blackhoof River Wma #2
- Jay Cooke State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Upper Saint Louis
- Carlton County State Aid Highway #12 Bridge To The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam
- The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam To The Confluence With St. Croix River
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
More reservoirs
Track Sawyer Pool 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 Sawyer Pool
Where does the data for Sawyer Pool 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 Sawyer Pool.