Turtle Lake dam
Turtle Lake
Turtle Lake, located in Vilas, Wisconsin, is a picturesque reservoir on Turtle River primarily used for recreation. The dam, completed in 1948, stands at 8 feet tall and has a controlled spillway width of 13 feet. With a storage capacity of 6130 acre-feet and a surface area of 823 acres, the lake offers ample opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water-based activities. Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam is regularly inspected and maintained to ensure public safety.
Managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Turtle Lake is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) was last revised in 2007, with a risk assessment indicating a very high risk level. While the risk management measures and inundation maps status are unclear, the reservoir remains a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and climate advocates alike. The surrounding area's lush landscape and diverse flora and fauna make Turtle Lake a haven for nature lovers and water resource conservationists.
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 Turtle Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear River Near Manitowish Waters | 85 cfs | → |
| North Creek @ Trout Lake Nr Boulder Junction | 3 cfs | → |
| Trout River At Trout Lake Near Boulder Junction | 30 cfs | → |
| Stevenson Creek At Cth M Nr Boulder Junction | 2 cfs | → |
| Allequash Creek At Cth M Nr Boulder Junction | 11 cfs | → |
| Allequash Creek Site 3 Near Boulder Junction | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Turtle Lake.
Boat launches
- South Turtle Lake
- North Turtle Lake -- Ramp - Betw N Turtle And Rock Lakes
- Tamarack Lake -- Boat Ramp
- Cedar Lake Circle 640, Town Of Mercer
- Birch Lake
- Harris Lake -- Access At East End Of Lake
Campgrounds
- Big Lake Campground
- Henry Lake Campground
- Lake Of The Falls Campgrounds
- Camp Nawakwa
- Bobcat Lake Campground
- Moosehead Lake Campground
Fishing spots
Track Turtle 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 Turtle Lake
Where does the data for Turtle 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 Turtle Lake.