Margaret Lake dam
Margaret Lake
Margaret Lake, also known as Marget Lake Dam, is a captivating water resource located in St. Francis, Minnesota. This state-regulated dam was completed in 1966 by the USDA NRCS and serves various purposes, including providing 2040 acre-feet of storage capacity and controlling the flow of the Rum River-TR. With a low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Margaret Lake is a key infrastructure managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The Earth-type dam stands at 18 feet high and 20 feet long, with a surface area of 115 acres and a drainage area of 1 square mile. Despite its lack of a spillway, the dam has proven to be effective in regulating water flow and managing the risk of flooding in the region. The dam's structure is buttressed and rests on an unlisted/unknown foundation, ensuring its stability and functionality for years to come.
With the support of state agencies and the USDA NRCS, Margaret Lake continues to play a crucial role in water management and climate resilience efforts in Isanti County, Minnesota. As a vital piece of infrastructure in the region, the dam's impact on water resources, wildlife habitats, and community safety underscores the importance of sustainable dam management practices in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Margaret Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rum River Near St. Francis | 283 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Anoka | 5,470 cfs | → |
| Elk River Near Big Lake | 207 cfs | → |
| Elm Creek Nr Champlin | 13 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Anoka | 6,230 cfs | → |
| Shingle Creek At Queen Ave In Minneapolis | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Margaret Lake.
Boat launches
- Rum River North County Park
- Pauls Lake Road 3094, Cambridge
- Typo Lake Launch
- Pickerel Lake Launch
- Rum River Central Reg. Park
- Martin-Island-Linwood Reg Park
Campgrounds
- Isanti County Fairgrounds
- Riverside City Park - Princeton
- Riverside City Park Campground
- Bunker Hills Campground
- Bunker Hills Regional Park
- Ann Lake Campground
Track Margaret 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 Margaret Lake
Where does the data for Margaret 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 Margaret Lake.