Butler Pond dam
Butler Pond
Butler Pond, also known as Empire Lake Dam, is a local government-owned water resource located in Empire, Minnesota. Built in 1965 by the NRCS, this earth dam serves as a Fish and Wildlife Pond with a primary purpose of promoting the conservation of aquatic habitats. The dam stands at 11 feet tall and spans a length of 700 feet, creating a storage capacity of 165 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 24 acres.
Situated on the Vermillion River-TR, Butler Pond is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, ensuring that it meets state permitting and inspection requirements. Despite having a low hazard potential, the dam is reported to be in fair condition as of its last assessment in September 2012. With its picturesque location and vital role in supporting local wildlife, Butler Pond serves as a valuable asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts to admire and study in Dakota County, Minnesota.
As one of the many water structures in the area, Butler Pond adds to the diverse ecosystem of Dakota County and contributes to the overall environmental health of the region. Its significance as a conservation area for fish and wildlife highlights the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams like this to ensure their continued functionality and ecological benefits. For those interested in water resources and climate studies, Butler Pond offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of human infrastructure and natural habitats in a beautiful setting along the Vermillion River-TR.
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 Butler Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Vermillion River Near Empire | 27 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River Below L&D #2 At Hastings | 14,700 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Fort Snelling State Park | 6,620 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Prescott | 19,500 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At St. Paul | 13,900 cfs | → |
| Cannon River At Welch | 375 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Butler Pond.
Track Butler Pond 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 Butler Pond
Where does the data for Butler Pond 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 Butler Pond.