Winnibigoshish Dam - Dike 1 dam
Winnibigoshish Dam - Dike 1
Winnibigoshish Dam - Dike 1, located in Cass County, Minnesota, was completed in 1884 with a primary purpose of water supply. The dam, made of earth and stone materials, stands at a height of 5 feet and a length of 50 feet, with a storage capacity of 550,000 acre-feet. Although the dam no longer serves its original function of preventing breakout flows into Portage Lake, it still plays a significant role in flood risk reduction, navigation, recreation, and wildlife conservation in the area.
Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Winnibigoshish Dam undergoes regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and operational effectiveness. The dam poses a significant hazard potential, prompting the implementation of risk management measures that involve monitoring, prioritizing activities, and coordinating with local emergency managers to develop and update emergency action plans. Despite being effectively replaced by Highway 2, the dam continues to contribute to the overall water resource management and environmental preservation efforts in the region.
In light of the dam's historical significance and ongoing relevance, it serves as a critical component of the water infrastructure in the area and showcases the continuous efforts of the US Army Corps of Engineers in safeguarding water resources, mitigating risks, and ensuring public safety in the face of potential dam-related emergencies.
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 Winnibigoshish Dam - Dike 1 -- 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 | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Winnibigoshish Dam - Dike 1.
Boat launches
- Lake Winnibigoshish (W)
- Federal Dam Drive Northeast 1115, Cass County
- North Shore Drive Northwest 2483, Cass County
- Mississippi River, Lake Winnibigoshish Rec Area
- Pigeon Dam Lake
- Itasca County
Campgrounds
- Winnie Campground
- Winnie
- Six Mile Lake Campground
- Leech Lake -Coe
- Leech Lake Rec Area
- Tamarack Point Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
- Cass Lake To Lake Winnibigoshish
- The Otter Tail Powerplant To Allen's Bay
- Dora Lake To State Highway 6
- The Iron Bridge Of County Road 7 To Lake Bemidji
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
Track Winnibigoshish Dam - Dike 1 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 Winnibigoshish Dam - Dike 1
Where does the data for Winnibigoshish Dam - Dike 1 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 Winnibigoshish Dam - Dike 1.