Mississippi River Lock And Dam 5a dam
Mississippi River Lock And Dam 5a
Mississippi River Lock and Dam 5a, located in Winona, Minnesota, is a vital structure managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers for the primary purpose of navigation, with additional benefits for recreation. Completed in 1936, this concrete dam stands at 46 feet high and spans 21,520 feet in length, with a capacity to store up to 260,000 acre-feet of water. The dam plays a crucial role in managing water levels along the Mississippi River, with a controlled spillway width of 575 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 268,000 cubic feet per second.
With a significant hazard potential, the dam is subject to regular inspections and risk assessments to ensure its structural integrity and effectiveness in flood risk management. The US Army Corps of Engineers actively monitors and addresses all types of flood risks associated with the dam, working closely with local emergency managers and the public to raise awareness and develop emergency action plans. Continuous maintenance and repairs are carried out to uphold the dam's functionality and readiness for potential emergencies. As a critical component of the regional water resource infrastructure, Mississippi River Lock and Dam 5a serves as a key player in maintaining the safety and stability of the surrounding areas amidst varying hydrological conditions.
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 Mississippi River Lock And Dam 5a -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Winona | 32,600 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Dodge | 608 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Arcadia | 541 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Galesville | 1,190 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Houston | 840 cfs | → |
| Zumbro River At Kellogg | 1,550 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mississippi River Lock And Dam 5a.
Boat launches
- Prairie Island Road Winona
- Bartlet Lake Road Winona
- Mississippi River -- Lower Fountain City Landing
- Lake Winona Bike Path Winona
- Mississippi River -- Fountain City Boat Dock
Campgrounds
- Prairie Island City Campground
- Prairie Island Campground
- Merrick State Park
- Merrick State Park Campground
- Pla-Mor Campground
- Group Tent Campsite
Fishing spots
- Dacota Street Fishing Pier
- Huff Street Fishing Pier
- Franklin St. Fishing Pier
- New Albin Big Lake
- Bigalks Creek
- Coldwater Creek
Track Mississippi River Lock And Dam 5a 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 Mississippi River Lock And Dam 5a
Where does the data for Mississippi River Lock And Dam 5a 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 Mississippi River Lock And Dam 5a.