Lion's Park dam
Lion's Park
Lion's Park, also known as Lion's Park Dam, is a state-owned structure located in Frazee, Minnesota, along the Otter Tail River. Built in 1939 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA-C), this gravity dam serves as a crucial flood risk reduction measure in the region. With a height of 13 feet and a storage capacity of 1300 acre-feet, Lion's Park Dam plays a vital role in managing water levels and protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, and it is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Environmental & Water Resources Division. Despite its fair condition assessment and low hazard potential, Lion's Park Dam is regularly monitored to ensure its continued effectiveness and safety. The dam has a drainage area of 275 square miles, a normal storage capacity of 742 acre-feet, and a surface area of 125 acres, making it a significant water resource management structure in Becker County.
Lion's Park Dam is a historical and essential infrastructure for water management in the region, providing protection against flood events and ensuring the safety of the surrounding communities. With its strategic location on the Otter Tail River and its gravity design, this structure continues to play a crucial role in maintaining water levels and safeguarding the area from potential water-related disasters. As a state-owned property with state jurisdiction and regulatory oversight, Lion's Park Dam stands as a testament to the importance of proactive water resource management in the face of changing climate 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 Lion's Park -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Otter Tail River Near Elizabeth | 358 cfs | → |
| Buffalo River Near Hawley | 52 cfs | → |
| Straight River Near Park Rapids | 44 cfs | → |
| Crow Wing River At Nimrod | 354 cfs | → |
| Otter Tail River Bl Orwell D Nr Fergus Falls | 520 cfs | → |
| South Branch Buffalo River At Sabin | 88 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lion's Park.
Boat launches
- Frazee
- Valley View Road 31379, Becker County
- 513th Street Otter Tail County
- Rice Lake Road 48817, Otter Tail County
- Otter Tail County
Campgrounds
- American Legion Park - Detroit Lakes
- Maplewood State Park
- Waterfront Park
- Maplewood State Park Campground
- Wolf Lake City Campground
- Sherin Memorial City Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Lion's Park 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 Lion's Park
Where does the data for Lion's Park 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 Lion's Park.