Fall River dam
Fall River
Fall River, also known as Lazy Lake, is a gravity dam located in Columbia, Wisconsin, along the North Branch Crawfish River. Completed in 1859, this dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, providing a serene setting for water enthusiasts to enjoy. With a height of 17 feet and a length of 300 feet, Fall River has a storage capacity of 900 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 578 acre-feet.
Despite its age, Fall River maintains a satisfactory condition assessment and is inspected every two years to ensure its safety. However, due to its high hazard potential and very high risk assessment, the dam's management team must remain vigilant in implementing risk management measures. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 60 feet, capable of handling a maximum discharge of 3000 cubic feet per second.
Fall River's location in the beautiful Wisconsin countryside, paired with its historical significance as one of the oldest dams in the area, makes it a noteworthy site for both water resource and climate enthusiasts. As a regulated structure under the supervision of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Fall River continues to play a vital role in the local ecosystem and provides a valuable resource for the community to enjoy and appreciate.
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 Fall River -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver Dam River At Beaver Dam | 47 cfs | → |
| Yahara River At Windsor | 21 cfs | → |
| Rock River At Horicon | 621 cfs | → |
| Rock River At Watertown | 1,580 cfs | → |
| Crawfish River At Milford | 556 cfs | → |
| South Branch Rock River At Waupun | 100 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fall River.
Boat launches
- Lazy Lake -- Access - Near Dam
- Lazy Lake -- Near Lazy Lake Rd
- Lazy Lake -- Access - Sleepy Hollow Rd
- Rotary Park
- Lost Lake -- Town Park
- Lost Lake -- Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Astico County Park Campground
- Derge Park
- Wild Goose City Park
- Indian Trails Campground
- Jamison Town Park
- Token Creek County Park
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Fall River 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 Fall River
Where does the data for Fall River 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 Fall River.