West Fork Group No. 1 dam
West Fork Group No. 1
West Fork Group No. 1, located in Lake City, Minnesota, is a privately owned earth dam designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1971 for the primary purpose of flood risk reduction. The dam stands at a height of 30 feet and spans a length of 435 feet, providing a storage capacity of 36 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 375 cubic feet per second. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, the dam is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and effectiveness in mitigating flood risks for the Wells Creek-TR watershed.
Managed by the Detroit District of the USACE, West Fork Group No. 1 features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with a flood risk reduction focus that aligns with its primary purpose. The dam's construction and operations are overseen by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement protocols in place to maintain its functionality and compliance with regulatory standards. Despite its moderate risk assessment score, the dam serves as a vital infrastructure component for the Goodhue County watershed, demonstrating the collaborative efforts between federal, state, and private entities in managing water resources and climate-related challenges in the region.
With Angie Craig, a Democratic Congresswoman, representing the area, West Fork Group No. 1 stands as a testament to the partnership between government agencies, designers, and private owners in safeguarding communities from potential flood risks. Its location in the Wells Creek-TR watershed underscores the importance of sound water resource management practices, as the dam continues to play a crucial role in flood risk reduction efforts within the Minnesota region. As climate change impacts intensify, the coordination and maintenance of structures like West Fork Group No. 1 become increasingly essential in preserving the ecological balance and resilience of water systems in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 West Fork Group No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Red Wing | 19,400 cfs | → |
| Cannon River At Welch | 713 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Prescott | 22,200 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Below L&D #2 At Hastings | 17,800 cfs | → |
| Kinnickinnic River Near River Falls | 91 cfs | → |
| Zumbro River At Kellogg | 1,550 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Fork Group No. 1.
Boat launches
- Mississippi River -- Hager City
- Mississippi River -- Bay City
- Route 61/Route 63 Lake City
- Mississippi River -- Maiden Rock
- Mississippi River -- Stockholm
- Mississippi River -- Deer Island Landing
Campgrounds
- Hay Creek Valley Campground
- Bay City
- Frontenac State Park Cart-In
- Hok-Si-La Park Campground
- Stockholm Village Park
- Covered Bridge Park Campground
Fishing spots
Track West Fork Group No. 1 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 West Fork Group No. 1
Where does the data for West Fork Group No. 1 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 West Fork Group No. 1.