Prior Lake/Spring Lake Flood Preparedness

This page offers information regarding the potential for flooding in and around the City of Prior Lake, as well as valuable information regarding flood preparedness.

The National Weather Service provides accurate warnings and forecasts for Scott County and Prior Lake.

If you observe a sudden rise in water or something unusual with a storm pond, creek, storm water drain, sanitary sewer manhole or street with flooding notify Prior Lake Public Works at (952) 447-9830 during regular business hours. Call Scott County dispatch at (952) 445-1411 after 4:30 p.m. or weekends.

Upper and Lower Prior Lakes have had great variation in the past, hitting highs of more than five feet above the average and sinking to more than 18 feet below average. The historic average lake level is a little lower than 902 ft., and the 100-year high flood event level is 908.9 ft.

Click here to subsribe to the City Newswire e-newsletter for updates regarding flooding and river crossing status.

The Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District (PLSLWD) monitors and maintains the Prior Lake Outlet Structure on Lower Prior Lake.

This man-made outlet was constructed in 1983 and recent improvements were completed in 2010. The outlet channel extends seven miles from the southwest end of Prior Lake to the Minnesota River.

For more information, contact the Watershed District Administrator Michael Kinney at (952) 447-4166.

The Prior Lake City Code provides that the city manager will declare a slow no wake zone across all of Upper and Lower Prior Lake if lake levels exceed 904 ft. for more than three consecutive days. This provision reduces erosion created by wave action due to water craft operation.

In the event of flooding, the City of Prior Lake will provide sandbags to Prior Lake and Spring Lake Township residents at City Hall (4646 Dakota St. SE in Prior Lake) for $.25 per bag. The city will provide free sand and delivery to Prior Lake residents requesting more than 10 bags worth. Spring Lake Township residents can purchase sand for $50 a load for sand delivery proportional to the number of bags bought, provided it is within the 12-ton limit of a Prior Lake City truck. Sandbag orders and payment can be made through the front desk at City Hall Monday - Friday, 8 - 4:30 p.m. and the city will deliver as soon as possible.

Filling sandbags is a two-person operation. Click here for more information.

On Lake: Lords St. (East of Edgewater), Shady Beach Trail Cul-de-sac, Rutgers St, Waters Edge Trail, Glendale Ave Cul-de-sac, Cove Ave (N end), Breezy Pt. Road (N end) and West Ave

Off Lake:  Cates St and Albany, Dutch & Green Hts.

All of the sanitary sewer lines for the above streets are monitored by the city.

Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States and can affect neighborhoods or entire river basins and multiple states. Be aware of flood hazards no matter where you live, but especially if you live in a low-lying area, near water.

To learn how to protect yourself from a flood, visit the FEMA Flood Website.

The winter months normally bring all kinds of wet and snowy weather, but they also bring about a variety of conditions such as heavy rains, ice jams, and rapid snowmelt that can increase your flood risk.

A standard homeowner’s insurance policy does not cover flooding. A policy can be purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program with a typical policy costing between $100-500 per year depending on your risk area.

Considering Insurance? Flood Insurance must be purchased 30 days in advance of any flood and property in Prior Lake that falls within the 100-year flood event level of 908.9 ft. and below should consider insurance.

For more information call (961) 296-2488 or visit the Minnesota Department of Commerce Flooding Insurance website.

Please report to the National Weather Service available 24/7

Twin Cities – (952) 361-6671

Duluth – (218) 729-6697

Information to include: 

• Location (lat and lon if available otherwise, general description, bridge, river, etc.)
• Duration and size/length
• Is water rising behind the jam (quickly?)
• Is water moving around the sides of the jam?
• Is anything flooding/near to being flooded?
• Is it a sheet of ice, lots of large ice chunks?
• Is the ice moving, lifting, making noise, etc.?
• What infrastructure is immediately downstream?

Pictures are always helpful and updates may be requested. Ice jams can develop quickly but can also break out quickly.

National Weather Service website

Scott County Emergency Management website

Prior Lake Water Resources Web Page

Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District website

Advance Hydrological Prediction Service

Xcel Energy flooding news and safety tip newsletter

What is the flood risk where I live?

There are several ways of assessing your flood risk. If you live in a mandatory evacuation area and/or are required to have flood insurance, you can be virtually certain you live in a high flood risk area. A second way of assessing your risk is to refer to a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) to determine the flood zone designation for the area in which your property resides. Flood zone designations are available for most, but not all areas.

Where do I put sand and sand bags?

Filling sandbags is a two-person operation. Properly filled and placed sandbags can act as a barrier to divert moving water around, instead of through, buildings.  Untied sandbags are recommended for most situations.  Sandbag filling operations can generally be best accomplished at or near the placement site, and tying of the bags would be a waste of valuable time and effort. Click here for more information.

Who do I contact about flood insurance?

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is administered by FEMA, which works closely with nearly 90 private insurance companies to offer flood insurance to property owners and renters. Click here for a list of particpating insurance companies.

How can I find out about what to do?

FEMA provides a lot of helpful information and resources citizens can use to detirmine what to do before, during and after a flood. Click here for the FEMA Flood website.