Taylor Lake dam
Taylor Lake
Taylor Lake, located in Washburn, Wisconsin, is a state-owned reservoir with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Built in 1964, this earth dam stands at 8 feet high and spans 200 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 85 acre-feet. The lake covers an area of 11 acres and is fed by the tributary Little Frog Creek.
Despite its low hazard potential, Taylor Lake has a very high risk assessment rating, indicating the importance of its flood control function. The dam is regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. While the condition assessment is currently not rated, the emergency action plan for the reservoir shows that it meets guidelines for emergency preparedness.
In the serene setting of Taylor Lake, water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the vital role this reservoir plays in mitigating flood risks in the region. With its controlled spillway and state-regulated operations, Taylor Lake stands as a testament to effective water management practices in Wisconsin.
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 Taylor Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Namekagon River At Leonards | 154 cfs | → |
| St. Croix River Near Danbury | 1,320 cfs | → |
| Bois Brule River At Brule | 167 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River At Bishops Bridge Near Winter | 600 cfs | → |
| Nemadji River Near South Superior | 508 cfs | → |
| North Fish Creek Near Moquah | 55 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Taylor Lake.
Boat launches
- Haddick Road Town Of Gull Lake
- Western Lake Road Town Of Gull Lake
- Tranus Lake -- Access
- Derosier Lake -- Access
- Silver Lake -- Access At E Side Of Lake At End Of Silver Ln
- Colton Road Town Of Frog Creek
Campgrounds
- Minong Wild Rivers Trail Campground
- Chicog Town Park
- Chicog Town Park Campground
- Earl Landing - St. Croix National Scenic River
- Earl
- Earl Park
Track Taylor Lake 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 Taylor Lake
Where does the data for Taylor Lake 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 Taylor Lake.