Sunset Lake dam
Sunset Lake
Sunset Lake, located in Burnsville, Minnesota, is a local government-owned earth dam completed in 1983 for flood risk reduction along the Minnesota River. This dam stands at a height of 21 feet and spans 820 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, and it has a high hazard potential, although it has been assessed as satisfactory in condition.
Managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Sunset Lake is equipped with state-regulated permitting, inspection, and enforcement measures to ensure its structural integrity and operational safety. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, and it has a moderate risk assessment rating. With a drainage area of 5 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 30 acre-feet, Sunset Lake plays a vital role in mitigating flood risks and protecting the surrounding area from potential inundation.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Sunset Lake serves as a significant infrastructure asset in the St. Paul District, providing essential flood protection along the Minnesota River. Its location in Dakota County, Minnesota, and its design by OSM ENG highlight the collaborative efforts involved in managing water resources and addressing potential hazards. This dam's history, design features, and risk management measures make it an important site for studying the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
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 Sunset Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota River At Fort Snelling State Park | 6,620 cfs | → |
| Vermillion River Near Empire | 42 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River Near Jordan | 11,800 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At St. Paul | 18,100 cfs | → |
| Shingle Creek At Queen Ave In Minneapolis | 19 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Below L&D #2 At Hastings | 17,800 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sunset Lake.
Boat launches
- Crystal Lake Road East 60, Burnsville
- 195th Street West Lakeville
- Chalet Road Bloomington
- Smetana Lane Eden Prairie
- Staring Lake Parkway Eden Prairie
- Kolstad Road Eagan
Track Sunset Lake 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 Sunset Lake
Where does the data for Sunset Lake 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 Sunset Lake.