Leech Dam dam
Leech Dam
Leech Dam, also known as Leech Lake Reservoir, is a concrete dam located in Federal Dam, Minnesota. Built in 1885, it serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, navigation, water supply, and recreation. The dam stands at 13 feet tall and has a storage capacity of 680,000 acre-feet, with a surface area of 117,500 acres and a drainage area of 1,163 square miles.
Despite being classified as a significant hazard dam, recent risk assessments suggest that Leech Dam is at a lower risk level due to its ability to withstand floods exceeding design standards. The US Army Corps of Engineers, which owns and manages the dam, continuously monitors and maintains its condition to reduce risks to the public. Plans to evaluate fish passage at Leech have been proposed, although such modifications do not directly relate to dam safety concerns. Overall, Leech Dam represents a vital water resource in Minnesota, providing both recreational opportunities and essential flood protection measures.
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 Leech Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River Near Bemidji | 237 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 457 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 160 cfs | → |
| Straight River Near Park Rapids | 57 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River At Nimrod | 343 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 1,750 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Leech Dam.
Boat launches
- Federal Dam Drive Northeast 1115, Cass County
- North Shore Drive Northwest 2483, Cass County
- 24th Avenue Northeast Cass County
- Lake Winnibigoshish (W)
- Stony Point Camp Road Northwest 3204, Cass County
- Erwin Hills Drive Cass County
Campgrounds
- Leech Lake Rec Area
- Leech Lake -Coe
- Six Mile Lake Campground
- Winnie Campground
- Winnie
- Stony Point Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
- Cass Lake To Lake Winnibigoshish
- The Otter Tail Powerplant To Allen's Bay
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
- The Iron Bridge Of County Road 7 To Lake Bemidji
- Dora Lake To State Highway 6
Track Leech 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 Leech Dam
Where does the data for Leech 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 Leech Dam.