Benson F dam
Benson F
Located in St. Francis, Minnesota, Benson F is a private Fish and Wildlife Pond constructed in 1966 by the USDA NRCS. This earth dam spans 800 feet in length and stands at a height of 10 feet, with a storage capacity of 151 acre-feet. The dam serves the primary purpose of providing habitat for fish and wildlife in the area, with a maximum discharge capacity of 145 cubic feet per second.
Despite being uncontrolled, the spillway of Benson F is designed with a width of 47 feet to manage water flow during peak periods. The dam is classified as having a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment. While the condition of the dam is currently not rated, it is important to note that regular inspections and risk management measures are crucial to ensure the safety and functionality of this important water resource. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Benson F represents a unique ecosystem that plays a vital role in supporting local biodiversity and ecosystem health in the Rum River Offstream watershed.
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 Benson F -- 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 Benson F.
Boat launches
- Rum River North County Park
- Pickerel Lake Launch
- Rum River Central Reg. Park
- Pauls Lake Road 3094, Cambridge
- East Twin Lakes City Park
Campgrounds
- Isanti County Fairgrounds
- Bunker Hills Campground
- Bunker Hills Regional Park
- Riverside City Park - Princeton
- Riverside City Park Campground
- Ann Lake Campground
Track Benson F 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 Benson F
Where does the data for Benson F 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 Benson F.