Kilbourn dam
Kilbourn
Kilbourn, also known as Wisconsin Dells, is a privately owned hydroelectric facility located in the beautiful state of Wisconsin. This gravity dam was completed in 1909 and boasts a height of 61 feet, with a primary purpose of generating hydroelectric power and providing recreational opportunities. The dam has a storage capacity of 36,000 acre-feet and serves a drainage area of 7,746 square miles, with a maximum discharge of 80,690 cubic feet per second.
The Kilbourn dam has a controlled spillway and a high hazard potential, but its condition assessment is satisfactory, with the last inspection in July 2020. The risk assessment for this dam is classified as very high (1), indicating the need for strong risk management measures. The dam is regulated and inspected by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, ensuring that it meets state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements. Kilbourn's location on the Wisconsin River in Columbia County makes it a critical water resource that must be carefully managed for the safety and well-being of the surrounding communities and the 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 Kilbourn -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin River Near Wisconsin Dells | 9,040 cfs | → |
| Baraboo River Near Baraboo | 385 cfs | → |
| Lemonweir River At New Lisbon | 326 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Necedah | 253 cfs | → |
| Black Earth Creek At Black Earth | 51 cfs | → |
| Brewery Creek-Upstream Site-At Cross Plains | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kilbourn.
Boat launches
- Sweetbriar Drive Wisconsin Dells
- Wisconsin River -- Wisconsin Dells Parking Crandalls Bay
- County Highway A Lake Delton
- Dam Road 11, Lake Delton
- Newport Park
- Lake Blass -- Access
Campgrounds
- American Resport And Campground
- Rocky Arbor State Park
- Camp Upham
- Rocky Arbor State Park Campground
- Cliffwood Campground
- Sandstone Ridge Campground
Paddle runs
- Honey Creek (County Road Y On The Southern Bank) To The State Route 130 Highway Bridge Crossing At Lone Rock
- Lone Rock To The Confluence Of The Green And Wisconsin Rivers
More reservoirs
Track Kilbourn 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 Kilbourn
Where does the data for Kilbourn 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 Kilbourn.