Moorhead Lagoon dam
Moorhead Lagoon
Moorhead Lagoon, located in Georgetown, Minnesota, is a gravity dam with a height of 9 feet and a length of 38 feet. Completed in 1950, this structure serves as a vital water resource in Clay County, with a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet and a drainage area of 26 square miles. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam has been deemed to have a very high risk assessment rating due to its critical role in managing water flow along the Red River-TR.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Moorhead Lagoon undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and operational efficiency. With a satisfactory condition assessment as of May 2009, the dam plays a crucial role in flood control and water management in the region. The presence of controlled spillways and a maximum discharge capacity of 300 cubic feet per second further highlight its importance in mitigating potential risks and safeguarding the surrounding communities from flooding events.
Overall, Moorhead Lagoon stands as a vital piece of infrastructure in the water resource management system of Clay County, Minnesota. With its strategic location along the Red River-TR and its capacity to store and regulate water flow, this gravity dam plays a key role in maintaining the ecological balance of the region while minimizing the risks associated with potential flooding. As climate change continues to impact the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, the importance of structures like Moorhead Lagoon in ensuring the safety and well-being of local communities cannot be overstated.
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 Moorhead Lagoon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red River Of The North At Fargo | 865 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near Dilworth | 120 cfs | → |
| Sheyenne River At West Fargo | 362 cfs | → |
| Sheyenne River Diversion At West Fargo | · | → |
| South Branch Buffalo River At Sabin | 71 cfs | → |
| Sheyenne R Ab Sheyenne R Diversion Nr Horace | 361 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Moorhead Lagoon.
Boat launches
- Old Trail East Street Moorhead
- Red River Trail Fargo
- 52nd Avenue South Fargo
- County Road 25 1112, Hendrum
Track Moorhead Lagoon 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 Moorhead Lagoon
Where does the data for Moorhead Lagoon 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 Low 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 Moorhead Lagoon.