Mississippi River Locks And Dam 1 dam
Mississippi River Locks And Dam 1
Mississippi River Locks and Dam 1, also known as Pool 1, is a vital piece of infrastructure located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Constructed in 1917 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, this concrete dam stands at a height of 49 feet and serves primarily for navigation purposes on the Mississippi River. With a hydraulic height of 56 feet and a structural height of 51 feet, the dam provides essential control over the river's water levels, with a spillway width of 574 feet and a maximum discharge of 742 cubic feet per second.
This significant dam, with a storage capacity of 9,300 acre-feet, covers a surface area of 900 acres and serves a drainage area of 19,500 square miles. With two locks each measuring 400 feet in length and 56 feet in width, Mississippi River Locks and Dam 1 plays a crucial role in managing water flow, preventing floods, and supporting recreational activities in the region. Regular maintenance and risk management measures are implemented by the US Army Corps of Engineers to ensure the dam's structural integrity and readiness to respond to any potential emergencies, highlighting the importance of this key water resource infrastructure.
As part of a larger system of dams along the Mississippi River, Mississippi River Locks and Dam 1 faces various risks associated with flood management and severe weather events. The US Army Corps of Engineers actively monitors the dam's condition, engages with local emergency managers, and updates emergency action plans to enhance preparedness and response capabilities. By working collaboratively with stakeholders and implementing ongoing maintenance and risk mitigation strategies, this dam continues to play a critical role in supporting water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
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 Locks And Dam 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota River At Fort Snelling State Park | 6,620 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At St. Paul | 18,100 cfs | → |
| Shingle Creek At Queen Ave In Minneapolis | 19 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Near Anoka | 7,300 cfs | → |
| Vermillion River Near Empire | 42 cfs | → |
| Elm Creek Nr Champlin | 21 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mississippi River Locks And Dam 1.
Boat launches
- Hidden Falls Drive St. Paul
- Lake Nokomis Boat Launch
- Sam Morgan Regional Trail West Seventh - Fort Road
- Lake Harriet Boat Launch
- Bde Maka Ska Bicycle Trail Bde Maka Ska - Isles
- Kolstad Road Eagan
Campgrounds
- Lebanon Hills Campground
- Lebanon Hills Regional Park
- Kestrel
- Lake Elmo County Park Preserve
- Goldfinch
- Cardinal
Paddle runs
Track Mississippi River Locks And Dam 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 Mississippi River Locks And Dam 1
Where does the data for Mississippi River Locks And Dam 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 Mississippi River Locks And Dam 1.