Wheeler dam
Wheeler
Wheeler, also known as Townsend Flowage, is a gravity dam located in Oconto, Wisconsin, owned and regulated by the local government. Completed in 1880, this dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 476 acres and a storage capacity of 5300 acre-feet. The dam holds a high hazard potential and has a satisfactory condition assessment as of July 2020.
Situated on McCaslin Brook in Lakewood, Wheeler dam has a hydraulic height of 14 feet and a structural height of 20 feet, with a length of 200 feet. The dam has undergone modifications in 1940 and 1993. It is inspected every two years, and its risk assessment is rated as very high (1). The dam's spillway type is controlled, and it has a maximum discharge capacity of 517 cubic feet per second.
As a key feature in the region's water resource management, Wheeler dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities while requiring close monitoring due to its high hazard potential. Climate enthusiasts and water resource professionals alike are drawn to the dam's historical significance, structural design, and risk management measures that ensure the safety and sustainability of this essential 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 Wheeler -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wolf River At Langlade | 419 cfs | → |
| Peshtigo River Near Wabeno | 458 cfs | → |
| Popple River Near Fence | 136 cfs | → |
| Red River At Morgan Road Near Morgan | 236 cfs | → |
| Pike River At Amberg | 262 cfs | → |
| Oconto River Near Gillett | 723 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wheeler.
Boat launches
- Townsend Flowage -- Access At Bennett Lane
- Townsend Flowage -- Access At Hwy 32
- Townsend Flowage (Mccaslin Brook) - Access At Red Maple Lane
- Mccaslin Brook (Townsend Flowage) - Access At Cassler Lane
- Townsend Flowage -- Access Nr Sunset Bay Ln
- Reservoir Pond -- Water St Access
Campgrounds
- Boot Lake Campground
- Boot Lake Recreation Area
- Boot Lake
- Ada Lake
- Ada Lake Recreation Area
- Ada Lake Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Sec 12/13 Line, T35n, R16e To Forest Boundary In Sec 24, T35n, R16e
- Confluence With Armstrong Creek To Sec 12/13 Line, T35n, R16e
- 1/4 Mile Upstream From Evans Bridge To Confluence With Armstrong Creek
- 1/4 Mile Downstream From Ccc Bridge To 1/4 Mile Upstream From Evans Bridge
- Railroad Bridge To 1/4 Mile Downstream From The Ccc Bridge
- Main Branch-Forest Boundary In Sec 18, T37n, R15e To Railroad Bridge
More reservoirs
Track Wheeler 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 Wheeler
Where does the data for Wheeler 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 Wheeler.