Mississippi River Lock And Dam 3 dam
Mississippi River Lock And Dam 3
Mississippi River Lock and Dam 3, also known as Pool 3, is a federal structure located in Red Wing, Minnesota. Completed in 1938, this concrete dam serves primarily for navigation purposes on the Mississippi River. With a dam height of 26 feet and a hydraulic height of 38 feet, it helps maintain a constant pool level for river traffic, with a spillway width of 320 feet. The dam has a significant hazard potential and is classified as high-risk, but ongoing risk assessment measures are expected to reduce this to low-risk status.
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) continuously monitors and manages the dam-related flood risks by conducting regular inspections, maintenance, and repairs to ensure its proper functioning. The dam's risk management measures also include public engagement to raise awareness of potential hazards, particularly during river flood events. Recent modifications to the dam have focused on navigation improvements and rehabilitation of spot dikes to reduce accidents and potential overtopping during flood conditions. By prioritizing activities that address the most critical risks, USACE is working to enhance the safety and efficiency of Lock and Dam 3 for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
Overall, Lock and Dam 3 plays a crucial role in maintaining navigation on the Mississippi River while managing flood risks and ensuring public safety. With ongoing risk assessment and management measures in place, USACE is dedicated to reducing the dam's hazard potential and enhancing its resilience to potential threats. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Mississippi River Lock and Dam 3 serves as a fascinating example of infrastructure designed to balance navigation needs with environmental and safety considerations in a dynamic riverine ecosystem.
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 3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Red Wing | 19,400 cfs | → |
| Cannon River At Welch | 713 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Prescott | 22,200 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Below L&D #2 At Hastings | 17,800 cfs | → |
| Kinnickinnic River Near River Falls | 91 cfs | → |
| Vermillion River Near Empire | 42 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mississippi River Lock And Dam 3.
Boat launches
- Mississippi River -- Hager City
- 190th Street Way Goodhue County
- County Road 68 Goodhue County
- Mississippi River -- Bay City
- Dakota County
- Mississippi River -- Prescott Public Boat Launch (2nd And Front)
Track Mississippi River Lock And Dam 3 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 3
Where does the data for Mississippi River Lock And Dam 3 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 3.