Merton Rolling Mill dam
Merton Rolling Mill
Merton Rolling Mill, also known as Town Pond, is a gravity dam located in Waukesha, Wisconsin, with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 1840, this historic structure stands at a height of 10 feet and spans 700 feet in length, creating a surface area of 38 acres and holding a maximum storage capacity of 168 acre-feet. The dam regulates the flow of the Bark River and has a controlled spillway with a width of 23 feet.
Despite its fair condition assessment, Merton Rolling Mill has been designated as a high hazard potential structure due to its age and proximity to residential areas. The dam is inspected every two years, with the most recent assessment conducted in October 2019. The risk assessment for the site ranks as very high (1), prompting the need for stringent risk management measures to ensure public safety and protect the surrounding community from potential inundation events. Overall, Merton Rolling Mill serves as both a recreational asset and a critical water resource in the region, requiring ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate any potential risks associated with its aging 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 Merton Rolling Mill -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bark River At Nagawicka Road At Delafield | 41 cfs | → |
| Menomonee River At Menomonee Falls | 8 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Waukesha | 98 cfs | → |
| Little Menomonee River At Milwaukee | 19 cfs | → |
| Little Menomonee River Near Freistadt | 4 cfs | → |
| Underwood Creek At Wauwatosa | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Merton Rolling Mill.
Boat launches
- Keesus Lake -- Access
- Beaver Lake -- Access At State Hwy 83
- Pine Lake -- Access
- Pewaukee Lake -- Village Launch (Off Park Ave.)
- Moose Lake -- Ramp
- Pewaukee Lake -- Access At End Of Lakeview Blvd Nr Cth Ss
Campgrounds
- Naga-Waukee County Park Campground
- Harnischefeger Park
- Pinewoods Campground
- Ottawa Lake Campground
- Camp Ammon
- Mukwonago County Park Campground
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Merton Rolling Mill 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 Merton Rolling Mill
Where does the data for Merton Rolling Mill 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 Merton Rolling Mill.