Finnell dam
Finnell
Finnell, located in Sawyer, Wisconsin, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1963 for the primary purposes of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Managed by the USDA NRCS, this dam on Nail Creek has a height of 11 feet, a hydraulic height of 8 feet, and a length of 160 feet. With a storage capacity of 430 acre-feet and a drainage area of 18 square miles, Finnell serves as a crucial resource for water management in the area.
Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Finnell poses a very high risk due to its proximity to residential and agricultural areas. The dam, with a normal storage capacity of 230 acre-feet, has a maximum discharge of 725 cubic feet per second and a surface area of 91 acres. The controlled spillway design and regular inspections by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources ensure its continued functionality and safety for the community.
Finnell's location, at coordinates 45.6813665 latitude and -91.0937945 longitude, makes it a key feature in water resource management in the region. With state regulation, inspection, and enforcement in place, this dam on Nail Creek plays a vital role in maintaining water quality and quantity for fire protection, livestock, and small fish pond purposes. Its historical significance and ongoing monitoring make Finnell a noteworthy site for water resource and climate enthusiasts to study and appreciate.
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 Finnell -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chippewa River At Bishops Bridge Near Winter | 598 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Bruce | 1,330 cfs | → |
| Flambeau River Near Bruce | 2,350 cfs | → |
| Jump River At Sheldon | 1,270 cfs | → |
| Namekagon River At Leonards | 157 cfs | → |
| Bad River Near Mellen | 101 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Finnell.
Boat launches
- Lea Lake -- Access
- Windfall Lake -- Access At Cty Hwy D
- Radisson Flowage -- Access At Sw End Nr River Rd
- Price Dam Road Town Of Winter
- Flambeau River -- Access
- Winter Lake -- Access Off Doak Rd
Campgrounds
- Swan Creek Park
- Josie Creek County Park
- George's Island Camp
- Boy Scout Camp
- Headquarter Camp
- Connors Lake - Flambeau River State Forest
Paddle runs
- Forest Road 162 Crossing To Bridge On Blaisdell Lake
- East Forest Boundary To Forest Road 162 Crossing
- Forest Road 149 To West Forest Boundary
- Forest Road 148 To Forest Road 149
- Forest Road 144 To Forest Road 148
- Footbridge To Forest Road 144
More reservoirs
Track Finnell 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 Finnell
Where does the data for Finnell 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 Finnell.