St. Anthony Falls Lower Lock And Dam dam
St. Anthony Falls Lower Lock And Dam
St. Anthony Falls Lower Lock and Dam, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a vital structure on the Mississippi River, serving primarily for navigation purposes. Completed in 1956, this concrete dam stands at a height of 41 feet with a hydraulic height of 39 feet and a structural height of 58 feet. The dam's length spans 213 feet and includes a single lock measuring 400 feet in length and 56 feet in width. Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam has a significant hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring and risk management measures.
The dam's purpose extends beyond navigation to include recreation, making it a key resource for water enthusiasts in the area. With a storage capacity of 420 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 91,000 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water levels and preventing flooding in the region. The USACE works diligently to address various flood risks associated with the dam, regularly updating emergency action plans, conducting maintenance and repairs, and collaborating with local emergency managers to raise awareness and support preparedness efforts. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the St. Anthony Falls Lower Lock and Dam remains a critical infrastructure for both navigation and flood control on the Mississippi River.
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 St. Anthony Falls Lower Lock And Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shingle Creek At Queen Ave In Minneapolis | 19 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At St. Paul | 18,100 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Fort Snelling State Park | 6,620 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Anoka | 7,300 cfs | → |
| Elm Creek Nr Champlin | 21 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Anoka | 5,730 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near St. Anthony Falls Lower Lock And Dam.
Boat launches
- Bde Maka Ska Bicycle Trail Bde Maka Ska - Isles
- Hidden Lakes Parkway Golden Valley
- Silver Lake City Park Launch
- Lake Harriet Boat Launch
- Lake Nokomis Boat Launch
- Crystal Lake Regional Trail Robbinsdale
Campgrounds
- Lebanon Hills Campground
- Lebanon Hills Regional Park
- Rice Creek Chain Of Lakes Regional Park
- Bunker Hills Regional Park
- Bunker Hills Campground
- Lake Elmo County Park Preserve
Paddle runs
Track St. Anthony Falls Lower Lock And 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 St. Anthony Falls Lower Lock And Dam
Where does the data for St. Anthony Falls Lower Lock And 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 St. Anthony Falls Lower Lock And Dam.