Chippewa Diversion Dam water level — Minnesota
Chippewa Diversion Dam in Minnesota was last measured at 938.72 ft (datum NGVD29), as of Aug 22, 2026, 1:15 PM (UTC+00:00) (USACE CWMS Data). Over its recent trend window the level has been rising (+1.6 ft).
- % of conservation pool full
- Not reported
- Storage
- Not reported
- Recent trend
- ↑Rising
+1.6 ft over the trend window
Recent trend
Readings this station published between Jun 2, 2026 and Jun 7, 2026 — a 5-day window — downsampled for display.
Data: USGS Water Services (waterservices.usgs.gov) and USACE CWMS Data (cwms-data.usace.army.mil), retrieved 2026-08-31. Both public domain (a work of the U.S. Government, 17 U.S.C. §105).
Source: USACE MVP/ChippewaDiv_Dam, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00). Official page for this lake →
The dam behind Chippewa Diversion Dam
Chippewa Diversion Dam is held back by Chippewa Diversion Dam (also recorded as Watson Sag & Chippewa River Channel) , an earthfill embankment, holding the pool back by sheer mass and an impervious core rather than by the strength of concrete , standing 20 ft high and running 12,000 ft along its crest , built across CHANNEL BUILT OFF CHIPPEWA RIV in Chippewa County , near WATSON . It was completed in 1951 , and is owned by USACE - St. Paul District (a federal owner) , to a design credited to WPA, WPA - CEMVP.
Its recorded primary purpose is flood risk reduction — the pool is drawn down between storms so there is empty space waiting for the next flood, which is why this level can fall in dry weather and climb sharply after rain . It also serves flood risk reduction;other;fish and wildlife pond;recreation;water supply.
It is founded on soil, with a earth core. Its spillway is ungated: once the pool reaches the crest, water leaves on its own and the operator cannot hold it back. The spillway opening is 162 ft wide. Its outlet works use slide (sluice gate)1;tainter (radial)1;uncontrolled0.
NID classes it low hazard potential: a failure would be expected to damage little beyond the owner's own property. It is a consequence rating, not a condition rating.
At its normal pool the reservoir covers about 0 acres. NID records a maximum storage of 81 acre-ft against a normal storage of 0 acre-ft. Its maximum discharge capacity is 6,000 cubic feet per second.
Dam facts: National Inventory of Dams record MN00578 , filed by US Army Corps of Engineers — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, public domain. Water levels above come from USACE CWMS Data and are a separate source. (How this dam was matched to this gauge →)
How Chippewa Diversion Dam compares nearby
2 of 6 nearby lakes with a current trend are also rising right now.
Nearby lakes
The six nearest published lakes by centroid distance (great-circle) — cross-state neighbors included.
| Lake | State | Level | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lac Qui Parle Dam | MN | 932.67 ft | 6 km |
| Lac Qui Parle | MN | 932.65 ft | 17 km |
| Marsh Lake Dam | MN | 937.99 ft | 29 km |
| Highway 75 Dam Service Spillway | MN | 948.05 ft | 45 km |
| Highway 75 Dam Low Flow | MN | 948.08 ft | 47 km |
| Lake Kampeska at Water Plant at Watertown | SD | 1,718.66 ft | 110 km |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the current water level of Chippewa Diversion Dam?
- As of Aug 22, 2026, 1:15 PM (UTC+00:00), the pool elevation was 938.72 ft (datum NGVD29). See the trend chart above for the recent direction.
- Is Chippewa Diversion Dam full right now?
- Its managing agency does not publish a %-of-conservation-pool-full figure for this lake, so we show the bare level rather than estimate one.
- Where does this data come from?
- From USACE MVP/ChippewaDiv_Dam, retrieved Aug 31, 2026, 8:24 AM (UTC+00:00).
More in Minnesota
See every lake tracked in Minnesota, or read the methodology behind these figures.