Blue Hills dam
Blue Hills
Blue Hills, also known as Hill Trail Flowage, is a locally owned dam located in Rusk, Wisconsin. Completed in 1973, this earth dam stands at a height of 13 feet and has a hydraulic height of 8.6 feet. With a storage capacity of 250 acre-feet and a surface area of 42 acres, Blue Hills serves a primary purpose of 'Other' and is regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Despite its low hazard potential, Blue Hills is considered to have a very high risk due to its location on the TR BIG WEIRGOR river. The dam has a controlled spillway with a width of 26 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 50 cubic feet per second. While the dam's condition assessment is currently 'Not Rated', it undergoes inspections every 10 years, with the last inspection conducted in June 2003.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the unique characteristics of Blue Hills, from its modest height of 13 feet to the picturesque surroundings of Rusk County, Wisconsin. As a locally owned structure with a relatively low hazard potential, the dam provides important flood control and water storage benefits while being closely monitored and regulated by the state. Despite its risk assessment indicating a very high level of risk, ongoing inspections and management measures ensure the safety and integrity of Blue Hills for the surrounding community and ecosystem.
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 Blue Hills -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chippewa River Near Bruce | 1,200 cfs | → |
| Flambeau River Near Bruce | 2,210 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River At Bishops Bridge Near Winter | 600 cfs | → |
| Jump River At Sheldon | 1,070 cfs | → |
| Red Cedar River Near Colfax | 850 cfs | → |
| Namekagon River At Leonards | 154 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blue Hills.
Boat launches
- Audie Lake -- Boat Launch
- Deer Lake Boat Access
- Murphy Flowage -- Ramp
- Chippewa River -- Access Nr Trails End St Town Of Atlanta
- Hemlock Lake -- Access At 28 1/2 Ave
- Red Cedar Lake - Access At Tagalong Golf And Resort
Campgrounds
- Audie Lake County Park
- Murphy Flowage Park
- Bruce Village Park
- Swan Creek Park
- Doolittle Park
- Doolittle Park Campground
Paddle runs
- Forest Road 162 Crossing To Bridge On Blaisdell Lake
- East Forest Boundary To Forest Road 162 Crossing
More reservoirs
Track Blue Hills 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 Blue Hills
Where does the data for Blue Hills 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 Blue Hills.