Bear Valley S-21b dam
Bear Valley S-21b
Bear Valley S-21b, located in Zumbro Falls, Minnesota, is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1963 by the USDA NRCS for flood risk reduction along Cold Creek. Standing at a height of 26 feet and spanning 540 feet in length, the dam has a storage capacity of 132 acre-feet and a drainage area of 1.1 square miles. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam is regularly inspected and maintained by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to ensure its structural integrity and satisfactory condition.
With a maximum discharge of 605 cubic feet per second, Bear Valley S-21b utilizes an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates. The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, serving the surrounding area by mitigating potential flooding events. While the dam is deemed to have a moderate risk level, it meets regulatory guidelines and is equipped with emergency action plans to address any unforeseen circumstances. The surrounding community benefits from the dam's presence as it helps safeguard against potential flood damage and provides essential water resource management for the region.
Overall, Bear Valley S-21b plays a crucial role in protecting the Wabasha County area from flood risks, ensuring the safety and security of residents in Zumbro Falls. As a key structure in the region's water resource infrastructure, the dam serves as a vital component in managing water flow and minimizing the impact of potential flooding events. With regular inspections and maintenance, Bear Valley S-21b continues to fulfill its purpose of flood risk reduction effectively and efficiently, contributing to the overall resilience of the local ecosystem and community.
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 Bear Valley S-21b -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Zumbro River At Rochester | 159 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Red Wing | 19,400 cfs | → |
| Cannon River At Welch | 713 cfs | → |
| Zumbro River At Kellogg | 1,550 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Prescott | 22,200 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River At Durand | 9,280 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bear Valley S-21b.
Boat launches
- Route 61/Route 63 Lake City
- Mississippi River -- Stockholm
- Mississippi River -- Deer Island Landing
- Mississippi River -- Bay City
- Mississippi River -- Hager City
- Mississippi River -- Maiden Rock
Campgrounds
- Covered Bridge Park Campground
- Oronococ City Park
- Hay Creek Valley Campground
- Hok-Si-La Park Campground
- Stockholm Village Park
- Frontenac State Park Cart-In
Fishing spots
Track Bear Valley S-21b 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 Bear Valley S-21b
Where does the data for Bear Valley S-21b 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 Bear Valley S-21b.