South Zumbro Wr-4 dam
South Zumbro Wr-4
South Zumbro Wr-4 is a local government-owned earth dam located in Olmsted County, Minnesota, specifically in Rochester. Built in 1988 by the USDA NRCS, this dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Willow Creek-TR. With a height of 46 feet and a length of 1100 feet, South Zumbro Wr-4 has a storage capacity of 968 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 40 acres, draining an area of 4.3 square miles.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, this dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state agencies to ensure its structural integrity and operational efficiency. Despite being categorized as having a high hazard potential, the condition assessment as of June 2017 was deemed satisfactory. The dam's emergency action plan was last updated in April 2015, and it meets guidelines for risk management, with a very high risk assessment rating of (1).
South Zumbro Wr-4 plays a crucial role in safeguarding the surrounding area from potential flooding events, with controlled spillways and uncontrolled outlet gates in place. The dam's design and construction by the Natural Resources Conservation Service highlight the collaborative efforts to manage water resources effectively and mitigate climate-related risks in the region. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, staying informed about the maintenance and management of structures like South Zumbro Wr-4 is essential for ensuring the resilience of our communities 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 South Zumbro Wr-4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Zumbro River At Rochester | 159 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Pilot Mound | 393 cfs | → |
| Zumbro River At Kellogg | 1,550 cfs | → |
| Cedar River Near Austin | 173 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Winona | 30,900 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Red Wing | 19,400 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Zumbro Wr-4.
Campgrounds
- Camp Grounds
- Chester Woods/Kisrow County Park
- Bear Cave Park
- Old Campground
- Oxbow Park Campground
- Oronococ City Park
Fishing spots
- Bigalks Creek
- Dacota Street Fishing Pier
- Huff Street Fishing Pier
- Franklin St. Fishing Pier
- Coldwater Creek
- Pine Creek
Track South Zumbro Wr-4 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 South Zumbro Wr-4
Where does the data for South Zumbro Wr-4 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 High 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 South Zumbro Wr-4.