Pokegama Dam dam
Pokegama Dam
Pokegama Dam, also known as Pokegama Reservoir, is a concrete dam located in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, on the Mississippi River. Built in 1884 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam serves primarily for recreation, with additional purposes including flood risk reduction, navigation, and water supply. It has a height of 17 feet and a length of 385 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 120,000 acre-feet and a surface area of 13,000 acres.
Despite being classified as a moderate-risk dam by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Pokegama Dam is continuously monitored and maintained to reduce the risk to the public. A 2019 risk assessment highlighted concerns about potential overtopping during extreme flooding events, with a 1/5000-year chance of exceedance. To address these risks, the Corps is evaluating potential modifications to the dam in 2022, focusing on improving its resilience and safety measures. Overall, the dam's hazard potential is considered significant, but measures are in place to mitigate potential consequences and ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment.
In addition to the dam itself, the associated dikes are considered low to normal risk, primarily acting as low-height embankments during extreme flood events. The Corps' risk management measures include regular inspections, maintenance, and prioritizing activities to address potential risks. By proactively monitoring and maintaining Pokegama Dam, the Corps aims to ensure its continued functionality and safety for both recreational and flood management purposes.
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 Pokegama Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 489 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 274 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 2,950 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Bemidji | 208 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pokegama Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Mississippi River, Izaak Walton Park
- Columbia Street 262, Cohasset
- Pokegama Lake, #2
- Forest Lake
- Mississippi River, Sylvan Bay
- Jay Gould Lake
⛺ Campgrounds
- Pokegama-Coe
- Pokegama Rec Area
- Itasca County Fairgrounds
- Itasca County Fairgrouds Campground
- Kom-On-In Beach Campground
- Group Camp G1
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
- Dora Lake To State Highway 6
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
- Cass Lake To Lake Winnibigoshish
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
Track Pokegama Dam 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 Pokegama Dam
Where does the data for Pokegama Dam 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 Pokegama Dam.