Grindstone River dam
Grindstone River
The Grindstone River, also known as Hinckley, is a state-owned water resource situated in Pine, Minnesota. This river is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes in place to ensure its proper management. The primary purpose of the Grindstone River is for recreation, offering opportunities for outdoor activities and enjoyment for enthusiasts and nature lovers.
The Grindstone River features a gravity dam of 18 feet in height, providing a storage capacity of 428 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 1500 cubic feet per second. Despite its significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment, the river continues to attract visitors for its scenic beauty and recreational opportunities. With a moderate risk level associated with the dam, there is a need for ongoing risk management measures to maintain the safety and integrity of the structure.
Overall, the Grindstone River serves as a valuable water resource in Minnesota, offering both recreational and environmental benefits. As climate and water resource enthusiasts explore this area, it is important to be aware of the regulatory measures in place and the potential risks associated with the dam structure. By understanding and respecting these factors, visitors can continue to enjoy the beauty and diversity that the Grindstone River has to offer.
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 Grindstone River -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kettle River Below Sandstone | 476 cfs | → |
| Snake River Near Pine City | 447 cfs | → |
| St. Croix River Near Danbury | 1,320 cfs | → |
| St. Croix River At St. Croix Falls | 3,830 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 1,910 cfs | → |
| Rum River Near St. Francis | 428 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Grindstone River.
Boat launches
- Pine County
- Pomroy Beach Drive 2918, Kanabec County
- 1st Avenue Northeast 34, Pine City
- Saint Croix River -- Nelson Landing
Campgrounds
- Banning State Park
- Two Rivers
- Head Of The Rapids
- Eagle Bend
- Nelsons Landing - St. Croix National Scenic River
- Nelson Landing
Paddle runs
- The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam To The Confluence With St. Croix River
- Carlton County State Aid Highway #12 Bridge To The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam
- Upper Saint Louis
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
More reservoirs
Track Grindstone River 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 Grindstone River
Where does the data for Grindstone River 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 Significant 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 Grindstone River.