Alma Mill 3 dam
Alma Mill 3
Alma Mill 3, also known as Lester Jost, is a local government-owned dam located in Buffalo, Wisconsin. Built in 1963 and designed by USDA NRCS, this Earth-type dam serves the primary purpose of debris control and flood risk reduction along the TR Mill Creek. With a height of 34 feet and a length of 620 feet, Alma Mill 3 has a storage capacity of 55 acre-feet, making it an essential structure in managing water resources in the area.
Managed by WIDNR, Alma Mill 3 is state-regulated and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its satisfactory condition and low hazard potential. The dam has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3 and is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway for managing excess water flow during high discharge events. Despite its age, Alma Mill 3 continues to play a crucial role in protecting the community and surrounding areas from the impacts of flooding and debris accumulation.
Overall, Alma Mill 3 stands as a testament to effective water resource management and climate resilience efforts in Wisconsin. With its strategic location and design, this dam serves as a vital component in the local infrastructure, safeguarding against potential hazards and mitigating flood risks for the community. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to recognize the significance of structures like Alma Mill 3 in promoting sustainable development and ensuring the safety and well-being of residents in flood-prone areas.
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 Alma Mill 3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Zumbro River At Kellogg | 1,550 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Arcadia | 591 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Dodge | 649 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River At Durand | 7,310 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Winona | 29,400 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Galesville | 1,170 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Alma Mill 3.
Boat launches
- Mississippi River -- Dairyland Power Landing (Alma)
- Mississippi River -- Alma Marina
- Mississippi River -- Belvidere Slough Landing
- Mississippi River -- Upper Spring Lake Landing
- Mississippi River -- Indian Slough Landing
- Mississippi River -- Beef Slough Landing
Campgrounds
- Reicks Lake Park Campground
- Reicks Lake Park
- Richard J. Dorer Sf -Snake Creek
- Richard J. Dorer State Forest- Kruger Campground
- John Latsch State Park
- Richard J. Dorer Sf -Zumbro Bottom Horse Camp North
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Alma Mill 3 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 Alma Mill 3
Where does the data for Alma Mill 3 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 Alma Mill 3.