Barton dam
Barton
Barton, also known as Gadow Mill, is a gravity dam located in West Bend, Wisconsin, along the Milwaukee River. Built in 1846, this dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 18 acres and a normal storage capacity of 90 acre-feet. With a height of 14 feet and a hydraulic height of 10 feet, Barton has a maximum discharge capacity of 2,793 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Barton has a high hazard potential due to its age and location. However, recent inspections have deemed its condition as satisfactory, with a risk assessment rating of very high. Despite its age and potential risks, Barton continues to be a popular spot for recreation and water enthusiasts in the Washington County area.
In order to ensure the safety and longevity of Barton, regular inspections are conducted, with the most recent assessment taking place in January 2020. With a risk management plan in place and emergency action preparedness being evaluated periodically, Barton remains an important resource for both the local community and the surrounding environment.
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 Barton -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek Near Cedarburg | 85 cfs | → |
| Milwaukee River Near Cedarburg | 417 cfs | → |
| Little Menomonee River Near Freistadt | 5 cfs | → |
| Menomonee River At Menomonee Falls | 12 cfs | → |
| East Branch Rock River Near Mayville | 43 cfs | → |
| Rock River At Horicon | 610 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Barton.
Boat launches
- Wallace Lake -- Access
- Silver Creek (35500) N. University Drive
- Smith Lake -- Access
- Smith Lake - Carry-In Access At Kettle Moraine Drive
- Silver Lake -- Landing
- Green Lake -- South Boat Launch
Campgrounds
More reservoirs
Track Barton 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 Barton
Where does the data for Barton 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 High 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 Barton.