Wind Lake dam
Wind Lake
Wind Lake in Racine, Wisconsin is a gravity dam completed in 1905 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at 7 feet high and has a hydraulic height of 3 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 3,740 acre-feet. The dam spans 120 feet in length and has a drainage area of 35 square miles, with a maximum discharge of 2,120 cubic feet per second.
Despite being categorized as low hazard potential, the condition assessment of Wind Lake Dam is rated as fair. The last inspection in August 2018 indicated an inspection frequency of every 10 years, with the risk assessment showing a very high risk level. The dam is under the regulatory jurisdiction of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR), with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Wind Lake Dam on Muskego Creek offers ample opportunities for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy recreational activities in a picturesque setting. With its historical significance dating back over a century, the dam continues to provide valuable water storage and flood control functions for the surrounding area. Despite its risk assessment, ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts help to ensure the safety and longevity of this vital water resource infrastructure.
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 Wind Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Root River Canal Near Franklin | 16 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Franklin | 24 cfs | → |
| Mukwonago River At Mukwonago | 47 cfs | → |
| Root River At Grange Avenue At Greenfield | 5 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Waukesha | 108 cfs | → |
| Fox River Near New Munster | 483 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wind Lake.
Boat launches
- Wind Lake -- Access Off Wind Lake Rd
- Waubeesee Lake -- Access Off Long Lake Rd
- Long Lake -- Kec-Nong-Ga-Mong Lake -- N End
- Denoon Lake -- Access
- Tichigan Lake / Fox Riv -- Access - Bridge &Amp;Amp; Conserv Dr
- Buena Lake/Tichigan Lk -- Access
Campgrounds
- Phantom Ranch Bible Camp
- Mukwonago County Park Campground
- Camp Ammon
- Pinewoods Campground
- Ottawa Lake Campground
- Kmsf-Su Shelter 2
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Wind Lake 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 Wind Lake
Where does the data for Wind Lake 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 Wind Lake.