Leland dam
Leland
Located in Sauk, Wisconsin, the Leland dam, also known as Honey Creek, stands as a testament to the importance of water resource management and climate resilience. Built in 1870 with a primary purpose of recreation, this gravity dam on the North Branch Honey Creek offers not only recreational opportunities but also plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and storage in the region. With a height of 14 feet and a length of 400 feet, the dam provides a storage capacity of 65 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 20.4 square miles.
Managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Leland dam is equipped with controlled spillways and a low hazard potential, ensuring the safety of the surrounding community. Despite being classified as having a fair condition assessment, the dam undergoes regular inspections with an inspection frequency of 10 years. With a very high risk assessment rating, stakeholders are actively working towards implementing risk management measures to mitigate any potential hazards and safeguard the integrity of the dam for future generations.
As climate change continues to impact water resources, structures like the Leland dam play a crucial role in adapting to changing conditions and ensuring sustainable water management practices. With a strong emphasis on enforcement, inspection, and permitting, the Leland dam exemplifies the commitment towards maintaining water infrastructure that is both functional and resilient in the face of evolving climate challenges.
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 Leland -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black Earth Creek At Black Earth | 45 cfs | → |
| Baraboo River Near Baraboo | 344 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River Near Wisconsin Dells | 6,710 cfs | → |
| Brewery Creek-Upstream Site-At Cross Plains | 4 cfs | → |
| Pheasant Branch At Airport Road Nr Middleton | 2 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Muscoda | 10,400 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Leland.
Boat launches
- Leland Millpond -- Access
- Whitemound Lake -- White Mound County Park Lake Access
- Baraboo River -- North Freedom - Access
- Ferry Crossing Bluff Road Town Of Prairie Du Sac
- River Road Town Of Arena
- Vfw Drive 490, Village Of Prairie Du Sac
Campgrounds
- White Mound County Campground
- White Mound County Park Camping
- Vfw Campground
- Devil’S Lake State Park Campgrounds
- Cedar Hills Campground
- Tower Hill State Park
Track Leland 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 Leland
Where does the data for Leland 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 Leland.