Grand Rapids dam
Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, located in Itasca County, Minnesota, is a significant hydroelectric facility situated on the Mississippi River. Constructed in 1916, this gravity and rockfill dam stands at 21 feet in height and spans 235 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 4000 acre-feet. The dam serves multiple purposes, including hydroelectric power generation and recreation, offering a surface area of 465 acres for outdoor activities.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Grand Rapids Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and energy production in the region. With a maximum discharge capacity of 8000 cubic feet per second and a controlled spillway width of 79 feet, the dam poses a significant hazard potential, requiring regular inspections and risk assessment. Despite its age, the dam's condition assessment is currently not available, highlighting the need for ongoing maintenance and emergency preparedness.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Grand Rapids represents a historic landmark in the sustainable utilization of hydropower resources. As the dam continues to provide clean energy and recreational opportunities, it serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring critical infrastructure to ensure the safety and well-being of surrounding communities. The risk management measures and emergency action plans associated with Grand Rapids Dam underscore the proactive approach taken to address potential hazards and ensure the resilience of water infrastructure in the face of changing environmental 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 Grand Rapids -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 446 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 174 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 2,040 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Grand Rapids.
Boat launches
- Mississippi River, Steamboat Landing
- Forest Lake
- Mississippi River, Sylvan Bay
- Hale Lake
- Crystal Lake
- Mississippi River, Izaak Walton Park
Campgrounds
- Itasca County Fairgrouds Campground
- Itasca County Fairgrounds
- Pokegama Rec Area
- Pokegama-Coe
- Kom-On-In Beach Campground
- American Legion Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
- Dora Lake To State Highway 6
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
- Cass Lake To Lake Winnibigoshish
Track Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids
Where does the data for Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids.