Twp Road 30 West dam
Twp Road 30 West
Twp Road 30 West is a vital infrastructure project located in Lyon County, Minnesota, designed for flood risk reduction along the Cottonwood River. Completed in 1999, this earth dam stands at a height of 24 feet and spans 250 feet in length, providing a maximum storage capacity of 212 acre-feet. Despite its crucial role in safeguarding the surrounding area from flooding, the dam is currently assessed as being in poor condition, highlighting the need for maintenance and improvements to ensure its long-term effectiveness.
Managed by local government authorities and regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Twp Road 30 West serves as a key defense mechanism against potential inundation events. With a low hazard potential but moderate risk assessment rating, the dam presents a complex challenge for stakeholders involved in its upkeep. Regular inspections are conducted to monitor its structural integrity, with a prescribed frequency of every 8 years to assess its operational readiness and overall safety measures. Efforts to enhance the dam's risk management strategies and emergency response protocols are essential to mitigate potential threats and protect downstream communities.
As climate change continues to exacerbate the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, the importance of resilient water resource infrastructure like Twp Road 30 West cannot be overstated. Collaboration between state and local agencies, along with proactive maintenance and risk mitigation measures, will be crucial in ensuring the long-term functionality and effectiveness of this critical flood control structure. By prioritizing investments in infrastructure resilience and adaptation strategies, stakeholders can better protect communities and ecosystems in the face of a changing climate landscape.
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 Twp Road 30 West -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood River Near Marshall | 40 cfs | → |
| Redwood River Near Redwood Falls | 194 cfs | → |
| Yellow Medicine River Near Granite Falls | 153 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Morton | 2,390 cfs | → |
| Flandreau Cr Above Flandreau Sd | 3 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Montevideo | 1,310 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Twp Road 30 West.
Track Twp Road 30 West 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 Twp Road 30 West
Where does the data for Twp Road 30 West 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 Twp Road 30 West.