Olson Meadows Flowage dam
Olson Meadows Flowage
Olson Meadows Flowage, located in Douglas County, Wisconsin, is a local government-owned water resource that serves primarily for recreation. The dam, completed in 1975, is an earth type structure standing at a height of 11 feet and with a hydraulic height of 9 feet. The flowage has a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 120 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 40 acres.
With a spillway type of "Controlled" and a hazard potential rated as "High", the Olson Meadows Flowage is subject to regular inspections by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The condition assessment in 2012 rated the dam's condition as "Fair", indicating the need for ongoing maintenance and monitoring. Despite its risk assessment being classified as "Very High (1)", the flowage remains a popular destination for water and climate enthusiasts seeking outdoor recreational opportunities in the region.
Overall, Olson Meadows Flowage provides a serene and picturesque setting for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. While it faces certain challenges in terms of its hazard potential and risk assessment, the flowage continues to be a vital water resource for the community and a beloved spot for nature lovers to enjoy the beauty of Wisconsin's natural landscape.
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 Olson Meadows Flowage -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bois Brule River At Brule | 167 cfs | → |
| Namekagon River At Leonards | 154 cfs | → |
| Nemadji River Near South Superior | 508 cfs | → |
| St. Croix River Near Danbury | 1,320 cfs | → |
| North Fish Creek Near Moquah | 55 cfs | → |
| St. Louis River At Scanlon | 2,770 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Olson Meadows Flowage.
Boat launches
- St. Croix Lake Boat Landing
- Saint Croix Flowage -- Access At Gordon - Off Flowage Ln
- Two Mile Lake - Lynch Rd Access
- Sauntrys Pocket -- Access
- Rock Lake -- Access At End Of Rocky Lake Rd
- Saint Croix Flowage -- Gordon Dam Access - Nr Cty Y
Campgrounds
- Lucius Woods County Park
- Gordon Flowage
- Gordan Dam
- Gordon Dam
- Gordon Dam Park Landing
- Mooney Dam County Park
Paddle runs
- Upper Saint Louis
- Forest Road 162 Crossing To Bridge On Blaisdell Lake
- East Forest Boundary To Forest Road 162 Crossing
- The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam To The Confluence With St. Croix River
- Carlton County State Aid Highway #12 Bridge To The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam
Track Olson Meadows Flowage 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 Olson Meadows Flowage
Where does the data for Olson Meadows Flowage 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 Olson Meadows Flowage.