County Road 109 dam
County Road 109
County Road 109, located in Lincoln, Minnesota, serves as a vital infrastructure for flood risk reduction along the Yellow Medicine River North Branch. Owned by the local government and regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, this rockfill dam stands at a height of 24.5 feet with a storage capacity of 147 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam has not been recently assessed for its condition, posing a potential concern for its long-term effectiveness in mitigating flood risks in the region.
The dam, primarily designed for flood risk reduction, plays a crucial role in safeguarding the surrounding area from potential inundation during periods of high water flow. With a drainage area of 6 square miles, the dam has a length of 460 feet and is situated in a strategic location to control the flow of water and protect the community of Porter. However, the lack of recent inspection and assessment data raises concerns about the dam's structural integrity and its ability to withstand future flood events, highlighting the importance of regular maintenance and monitoring to ensure its continued effectiveness.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, the maintenance and upkeep of dams like County Road 109 become even more critical. With the potential for more frequent and severe flooding in the future, it is essential for local authorities to prioritize the assessment and maintenance of these vital infrastructure assets to ensure the safety and resilience of the community against the growing threats posed by a changing climate.
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 County Road 109 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood River Near Marshall | 27 cfs | → |
| Lac Qui Parle River Near Lac Qui Parle | 184 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux River Near Bruce | 190 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Montevideo | 1,550 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River Near Lac Qui Parle | 1,240 cfs | → |
| Yellow Medicine River Near Granite Falls | 130 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near County Road 109.
Boat launches
- West Cottage Avenue Hendricks
- County Road 14 1104, Lincoln County
- Picnic Point Road Lincoln County
- Brookings County
- Deuel County
Track County Road 109 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 County Road 109
Where does the data for County Road 109 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 County Road 109.