Bad Axe 24 dam
Bad Axe 24
Bad Axe 24, also known as Skildum, is a flood risk reduction dam located in Vernon County, Wisconsin. Built in 1963 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 40 feet and spans 330 feet along the Bull Run river. With a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet, it serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction and debris control in the area.
Managed by the WIDNR, Bad Axe 24 has a low hazard potential and is classified as being in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in January 2017. The dam underwent modifications in 2003 and is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 33 feet. Regular inspections are conducted every 10 years to ensure its safety and effectiveness in mitigating flood risks for the surrounding community.
The dam's risk assessment is moderate, with a risk rating of 3 out of 5. The surrounding area is monitored for any potential risks, and appropriate risk management measures are in place to mitigate any potential hazards. With its critical role in flood risk reduction, Bad Axe 24 stands as a crucial infrastructure for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the region.
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 Bad Axe 24 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kickapoo River At La Farge | 250 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo River At Steuben | 631 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River Near Dorchester | 731 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo River At State Highway 33 At Ontario | 149 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River Near La Crosse | 408 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Ion | 250 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bad Axe 24.
Boat launches
- Sidie Hollow Lake -- Access
- Mississippi River -- Ferryville Landing
- Mississippi River -- Winneshiek Slough Landing
- Bad Axe River/Mississippi River -- Landing
- Mississippi River -- Blackhawk Upper Access (Near Desoto)
- Army Road Boat Landing
Campgrounds
- Ridge - Sidie Hollow Park
- Sidie Hollow County Park Ridge Campground
- Sidie Hollow County Park Boat Landing Campground
- Boat Landing - Sidie Hollow Park
- Main - Sidie Hollow Park
- Sidie Hollow County Park Main Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Western Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument To Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument
- The Big Green River To The River's Mouth At The Mississippi River
- The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek To Lane's Bridge
- The Town Of Bluffton To The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek
- Lone Rock To The Confluence Of The Green And Wisconsin Rivers
- The Minnesota-Iowa State Border To Ends Near The Town Of Bluffton, Iowa
More reservoirs
Track Bad Axe 24 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 Bad Axe 24
Where does the data for Bad Axe 24 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 Bad Axe 24.