Klinkner dam
Klinkner
Klinkner is a local government-owned earth dam located in Vernon County, Wisconsin, along Knapp Creek. Built in 1956 by the USDA NRCS, this dam primarily serves the purpose of flood risk reduction and debris control. With a height of 32 feet and a length of 580 feet, Klinkner has a storage capacity of 234 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 255 cubic feet per second.
Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, Klinkner is in satisfactory condition according to its last assessment in July 2019. The dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR). In the event of an emergency, there is no Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared for Klinkner, and the last revision of the EAP dates back to January 2012. The risk assessment for Klinkner is moderate, with a DSAC (Dam Safety Action Classification) of 3.
Overall, Klinkner plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks along Knapp Creek in Wisconsin. With its solid construction and regulatory oversight, this earth dam contributes to the protection of downstream communities and infrastructure. However, there is room for improvement in terms of emergency preparedness and updating the EAP to ensure swift and effective response in case of a dam failure or significant event.
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 Klinkner -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kickapoo River At State Highway 33 At Ontario | 149 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo River At La Farge | 250 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River At Sparta | 209 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River Near La Crosse | 408 cfs | → |
| Lemonweir River At New Lisbon | 326 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo River At Steuben | 631 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Klinkner.
Boat launches
- State Highway 131 La Farge
- West Main Street La Farge
- Sidie Hollow Lake -- Access
- Town Of Angelo
- State Highway 162 Bangor
- Field Veterans Memorial Lake Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Campsite T
- Campsite S
- Wildcat Mountain State Park
- Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground
- Campsite H
- La Farge City 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
- The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek To Lane's Bridge
Track Klinkner 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 Klinkner
Where does the data for Klinkner 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 Klinkner.