Little Hill Pond dam
Little Hill Pond
Little Hill Pond, located in Hill City, Minnesota, is a state-regulated water resource managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Built in 1978, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 8 feet and serves as a fish and wildlife pond with a storage capacity of 1200 acre-feet. The pond covers an area of 40 acres and has a drainage area of 5.4 square miles, with a controlled spillway for managing water discharge.
Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Little Hill Pond poses a very high risk due to its location near the Little Hill River. The dam undergoes inspections every 8 years, with the most recent assessment conducted in August 2019. The primary purpose of the dam is to support fish and wildlife habitats, making it an essential resource for conservation efforts in the area. With its picturesque setting and importance for biodiversity, Little Hill Pond is a valuable asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts in Aitkin County.
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 Little Hill Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 457 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Taconite | 160 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Aitkin | 1,750 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Brainerd | 2,040 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Hill Pond.
Boat launches
- 670th Street Aitkin County
- Smith Lake
- South Sugar Pwa
- Pokegama Lake, Sherry's Arm
- Split Hand Lake
- Little Siseebakwet Lake
Campgrounds
- Hill Lake City Park
- Land O'Lakes Sf - Baker And White Oak Lake
- Group Camp G1
- Schoolcraft State Park
- Land O'Lakes Sf - Clint Converse
- Washburn Lake - Land Olakes State Forest
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Confluence Of The Prairie River To The Boundary Of Logan And Workman Townships
- The Boundary Between Logan And Workman Townships In Aitkin County To The Dam Entrance Of The Flood Diversion Channel
- The Discharge Of The Flood Diversion Channel To Riverton
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
- Cass Lake To Lake Winnibigoshish
- Dora Lake To State Highway 6
Track Little Hill Pond 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 Little Hill Pond
Where does the data for Little Hill Pond 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 Little Hill Pond.