Scanlon East Channel Dam dam
Scanlon East Channel Dam
The Scanlon East Channel Dam in Minnesota, completed in 1922, stands as a striking example of a gravity dam used for hydroelectric purposes on the St. Louis River. With a height of 15 feet and a length of 333 feet, this dam provides a storage capacity of 876 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 847 acre-feet. The dam's spillway, controlled and 80 feet wide, ensures a maximum discharge rate of 45,000 cubic feet per second, making it a crucial component in managing water resources in the region.
Managed and regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Scanlon East Channel Dam is a significant structure with a very high hazard potential. It features eight Tainter radial gates for water release and is subject to state inspection, permitting, and enforcement. The dam's location in Carlton County, Minnesota, near the city of Scanlon, underscores its essential role in maintaining water levels for hydroelectric power generation and other uses. As a key part of the water infrastructure in the area, the dam plays a vital role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts.
Despite its age, the Scanlon East Channel Dam remains a crucial asset for water management and hydroelectric power generation in the region. As a regulated structure with a significant hazard potential, its careful upkeep and monitoring are essential for ensuring the safety and efficiency of operations. With its historical significance and ongoing importance for water resource management, the Scanlon East Channel Dam stands as a testament to the intersection of human ingenuity, environmental stewardship, and climate adaptation in the face of changing 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 Scanlon East Channel Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis River At Scanlon | 2,210 cfs | → |
| Nemadji River Near South Superior | 162 cfs | → |
| Knife River Near Two Harbors | 21 cfs | → |
| Bois Brule River At Brule | 131 cfs | → |
| St. Croix River Near Danbury | 906 cfs | → |
| Kettle River Below Sandstone | 303 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Scanlon East Channel Dam .
Boat launches
- Saint Louis River -- Oliver - Sajac Memorial Park Access
- Midway Road Saint Louis County
- Woodstock Bay
- Saint Louis River -- Arrowhead Fishing Pier Access
- Billings Park Boat Launch
- Pokegama River -- Access
Campgrounds
- Spafford City Park Campground
- Jay Cooke State Park
- Silver Creek Backpack Campsite
- High Landing Backpack Campsite
- Ash Ridge Backpack Campsite
- Lost Lake Backpack Campsite
Paddle runs
- Upper Saint Louis
- Carlton County State Aid Highway #12 Bridge To The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam
- The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam To The Confluence With St. Croix River
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
Track Scanlon East Channel 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 Scanlon East Channel Dam
Where does the data for Scanlon East Channel 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 Scanlon East Channel Dam .