Mlsna dam
Mlsna
Mlsna, a local government-owned dam located in Vernon, Wisconsin, serves as a critical structure for flood risk reduction along the TR Knapp Creek. Built in 1956 by the USDA NRCS, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 35 feet and has a length of 580 feet, with a storage capacity of 257 acre-feet. Despite its significant role in mitigating flood hazards, Mlsna has been rated as having a high hazard potential and an unsatisfactory condition assessment, highlighting the need for ongoing maintenance and improvements to ensure its effectiveness in safeguarding the surrounding area.
Managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Mlsna undergoes regular inspections every two years to assess its structural integrity and operational readiness. With a maximum discharge capacity of 1800 cubic feet per second and an uncontrolled spillway type, the dam poses moderate risks that necessitate risk management measures to enhance its resilience and emergency preparedness. Although Mlsna's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, it also serves as a debris control mechanism within its drainage area of 1.5 square miles, demonstrating its multifaceted role in water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
In light of its critical importance in protecting the community from flood events and ensuring water security, Mlsna stands as a focal point for collaboration and investment in sustainable infrastructure solutions. With state-regulated permitting and inspection processes in place, the dam represents a key component of the local watershed management strategy, requiring concerted efforts to address its current condition and enhance its long-term functionality for the benefit of both present and 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 Mlsna -- 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 | → |
| Black River Near Galesville | 1,640 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mlsna.
Boat launches
- State Highway 131 La Farge
- West Main Street La Farge
- Sidie Hollow Lake -- Access
- Town Of Angelo
- State Highway 162 Bangor
- Neshonoc Lake -- Access
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 Mlsna 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 Mlsna
Where does the data for Mlsna 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 Mlsna.