Alpine Lake dam
Alpine Lake
Alpine Lake in Waushara, Wisconsin, is a picturesque reservoir with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam, completed in 1970, is an earth structure standing at 25 feet tall and spanning 600 feet in length. The lake has a storage capacity of 950 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 450 acre-feet and a surface area of 80 acres.
Managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Alpine Lake is regulated, inspected, and permitted by state agencies to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. Despite its low hazard potential, the lake's condition is assessed as fair, with a very high risk assessment ranking. The last inspection in May 2020 indicated a need for continued monitoring and maintenance to uphold the safety and integrity of the dam.
With its controlled spillway and proximity to Bruce (Thorstad) Creek, Alpine Lake offers a serene recreational area for water enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. The presence of associated structures is minimal, emphasizing the natural beauty and simplicity of this local government-owned reservoir. As climate and water resource enthusiasts, the unique characteristics and risk assessment of Alpine Lake provide an intriguing insight into the intersection of human development and environmental management in the region.
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 Alpine Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fox River At Berlin | 1,570 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Princeton | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Puchyan River Ds N. Lawson Drive Nr Green Lake | 115 cfs | → |
| Waupaca River Near Waupaca | 431 cfs | → |
| Green Lake Inlet At Ct Highwy A Near Green Lake | 67 cfs | → |
| White Creek @ Spring Grove Road Nr Green Lake | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Alpine Lake.
Boat launches
- Lake Alpine -- Access
- Johns Lake -- Access
- Little Hills Lake -- Access
- Deer Lake -- Boat Ramp Off Cree Ave.
- Silver Lake -- Access At Near State Hwy 73
- Porters Lake -- Access
Campgrounds
- Badger
- Napowan Adventure Base
- Hartman Creek State Park Campground
- Crooked River Campground
- Camp Onaway
- Camp Grow
More reservoirs
Track Alpine 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 Alpine Lake
Where does the data for Alpine 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 Alpine Lake.