La Farge dam
La Farge
La Farge, located in Vernon County, Wisconsin, is a gravity dam built in 1862 along the Kickapoo River. With a primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation, this dam also serves recreational purposes for the local community. Standing at 16 feet high and 1000 feet long, it has a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet and a drainage area of 272 square miles.
Although La Farge has a low hazard potential, it is considered to have a very high risk due to its age and condition. It has not been rated for its condition assessment, and there is no emergency action plan in place. Despite these risks, the dam has undergone modifications in 1929 to ensure its continued operation. The dam is owned and regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR), with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to maintain its safety and functionality.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, La Farge presents an interesting case study of a historic dam that continues to play a vital role in both energy production and recreation. As efforts to update and improve the dam's infrastructure are considered, it is important to balance the benefits it provides with the potential risks associated with its age and condition. The collaboration between local government and state agencies will be crucial in ensuring the long-term sustainability and safety of La Farge for future generations.
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 La Farge -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kickapoo River At La Farge | 250 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo River At State Highway 33 At Ontario | 149 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River At Sparta | 209 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Muscoda | 10,400 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo River At Steuben | 631 cfs | → |
| Lemonweir River At New Lisbon | 326 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near La Farge.
Boat launches
- West Main Street La Farge
- State Highway 131 La Farge
- Field Veterans Memorial Lake Boat Ramp
- Sidie Hollow Lake -- Access
- Dutch Hollow Lake -- Access Nr Auble Landing Rd
- Park Road 110, Cazenovia
Campgrounds
- La Farge City Park
- Campsite H
- Campsite S
- Campsite T
- Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground
- Wildcat Mountain State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Big Green River To The River's Mouth At The Mississippi River
- Lone Rock To The Confluence Of The Green And Wisconsin Rivers
- Western Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument To Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument
- Honey Creek (County Road Y On The Southern Bank) To The State Route 130 Highway Bridge Crossing At Lone Rock
- The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek To Lane's Bridge
Track La Farge 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 La Farge
Where does the data for La Farge 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 La Farge.