Wedges Creek dam
Wedges Creek
Wedges Creek, also known as Snyder Lake, is a gravity dam located in Columbia, Wisconsin, with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1930, this structure stands at a height of 14 feet and has a hydraulic height of 10 feet, providing a storage capacity of 110 acre-feet. The dam spans a length of 200 feet and covers a surface area of 20 acres, with a drainage area of 46 acres.
Despite its age and poor condition assessment, Wedges Creek poses a low hazard potential and is regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR). The dam has undergone modifications in 1994 and is subject to regular inspections every 10 years, with the last assessment conducted in March 2017. While the risk assessment categorizes Wedges Creek as having a very high risk level (1), specific risk management measures and emergency action plans are not currently in place.
With its picturesque location and recreational value, Wedges Creek serves as an important water resource in the area. Enthusiasts interested in water management and climate adaptation can appreciate the historical significance and potential risks associated with this dam, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and sustainability of this vital 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 Wedges Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black River At Neillsville | 202 cfs | → |
| Black River Ds St Hwy 54 @ Black River Falls | 652 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Babcock | 42 cfs | → |
| Big Eau Pleine River At Stratford | 26 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River At Chippewa Falls | 3,340 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River At Sparta | 216 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wedges Creek.
Boat launches
- Town Of Pine Valley
- Black River -- North Arbutus Boat Landing
- Arnold Creek -- North Arnold Creek Access
- Lake Arbutus -- Access Nr Osprey Ln
- Lake Arbutus -- Access Nr Klima Rd
- Lake Arbutus -- Access Nr Robin Ln
Track Wedges Creek 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 Wedges Creek
Where does the data for Wedges Creek 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 Wedges Creek.