Sweeny Pond Creek dam
Sweeny Pond Creek
Sweeny Pond Creek, located in Barron, Wisconsin, is a state-regulated water resource owned by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The primary purpose of this earth dam, completed in 1964, is for recreation, offering a serene environment for enthusiasts to enjoy. With a height of 7 feet and a hydraulic height of 2 feet, the dam spans 300 feet and has a storage capacity of 580 acre-feet.
Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Sweeny Pond Creek poses a very high risk due to its location and potential impact on the surrounding area. The controlled spillway, with a width of 222 feet, helps manage the maximum discharge of 40 cubic feet per second. The dam's surface area covers 47 acres and drains an area of 6 square miles, making it a crucial part of the local ecosystem and water management infrastructure.
While the dam's last inspection took place in July 2013 and rated its condition as fair, ongoing risk management measures are essential to mitigate the high risk associated with this water resource. With its scenic surroundings and recreational opportunities, Sweeny Pond Creek serves as a valuable asset to the community, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Sweeny Pond Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hay River At Wheeler | 348 cfs | → |
| Red Cedar River Near Colfax | 850 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Bruce | 1,200 cfs | → |
| St. Croix River At St. Croix Falls | 3,830 cfs | → |
| Red Cedar River At Menomonie | 1,280 cfs | → |
| Flambeau River Near Bruce | 2,210 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sweeny Pond Creek.
Boat launches
- 8 3/4 Street Town Of Clinton
- Barron Flowage/Yellow River -- Access Off Mill St In Barron
- Barron Flowage/Yellow River -- Access Nr U.S. Hwy 8
- Lower Turtle Lake - Access Off 12 1/2 Ave
- Lower Turtle Lake - Access Of 3 3/4 4th Street
- Upper Turtle Lake -- Access Off Hwy 8
Campgrounds
- Village Park Campground
- Turtle Lake City Park
- Pioneer Park - Prairie Farm
- Eagle Point Campground
- Veterans Memorial Park - Cameron
- Kirby Lake Primitive
More reservoirs
Track Sweeny Pond Creek 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 Sweeny Pond Creek
Where does the data for Sweeny Pond Creek 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 Sweeny Pond Creek.