Rabideau Lake dam
Rabideau Lake
Rabideau Lake, located in Beltrami, Minnesota, is a state-regulated fish and wildlife pond with a primary purpose of providing habitat for local wildlife. Built in 1937, the dam that created Rabideau Lake is made of concrete and stands at a height of 7 feet, with a hydraulic height of 1.5 feet. The lake has a normal storage capacity of 1687 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 723 acres, with a drainage area of 26 square miles.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Rabideau Lake is assessed as being in fair condition as of 2009. The spillway, with a width of 16 feet, is uncontrolled, and there are no outlet gates associated with the dam. The lake is inspected every 8 years, with the last inspection taking place in July 2017. With a risk assessment rating of moderate (3), there are no emergency action plans or inundation maps prepared for the site as of the most recent data update in March 2021.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Rabideau Lake can appreciate its role in supporting local wildlife populations and its historical significance as a Works Progress Administration Civilian Conservation Corps project. With its unique design and purpose, the lake serves as a valuable habitat and recreational area within the North Turtle River watershed in Minnesota. Ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts help ensure the safety and sustainability of Rabideau Lake for both wildlife and visitors alike.
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 Rabideau Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi River Near Bemidji | 237 cfs | → |
| Red Lake River Near Red Lake | 232 cfs | → |
| Big Fork River At Big Falls | 566 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Grand Rapids | 457 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rabideau Lake.
Boat launches
- Ccc Camp Road Northeast Beltrami County
- Beltrami County
- Decker Lake
- Conrad Lane Northeast Beltrami County
- Farley Drive Northeast 8999, Beltrami County
Campgrounds
- Webster Lake
- Pine Tree City Park Campground
- Knutson Dam Campground
- Knutson Dam
- Bimijiwan (Formerly Knutson Dam) Recreation Area
- Camp Cassaway
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Cass Lake To Lake Winnibigoshish
- The Otter Tail Powerplant To Allen's Bay
- The Iron Bridge Of County Road 7 To Lake Bemidji
- Lake Winnigigoshish To Blackwater Lake
- Dora Lake To State Highway 6
- The Outlet Of Lake Itasca To The Iron Bridge Of County Road 7
More reservoirs
Track Rabideau 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 Rabideau Lake
Where does the data for Rabideau 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 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 Rabideau Lake.