Holcombe dam
Holcombe
Holcombe Dam, located in Holcombe, Wisconsin, along the Chippewa River, is a gravity-type dam primarily used for hydroelectric power generation and recreation purposes. Completed in 1950, this structure stands at a height of 60 feet and has a storage capacity of 46,000 acre-feet, with a maximum discharge rate of 290,000 cubic feet per second. The dam spans a length of 6,100 feet and covers a surface area of 4,300 acres, serving as a crucial water resource for the region.
Managed by a public utility, Holcombe Dam is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, with state permitting and enforcement in place. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 462 feet and is equipped with Tainter (radial) gates for water release. Despite its high hazard potential, the condition assessment of the dam is currently not available, highlighting the need for regular inspection and monitoring to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Overall, Holcombe Dam plays a vital role in water resource management and renewable energy production in the region, making it a key asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor and support.
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 Holcombe -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Jump River At Sheldon | 1,070 cfs | → |
| Flambeau River Near Bruce | 2,210 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Bruce | 1,200 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River At Chippewa Falls | 6,280 cfs | → |
| Red Cedar River Near Colfax | 850 cfs | → |
| Hay River At Wheeler | 348 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Holcombe .
Boat launches
- Holcombe Flowage -- Access At Near 260th Ave
- Holcombe Flowage -- Access At 267th And 270th St
- Holcombe Flowage -- Access At End Of 263rd St Off Cth M
- Chippewa River/Holcombe Flowage -- Access Off Cth M
- Holcombe Flowage -- Access At County Park Nr 256th St
- Holcombe Flowage -- Access At End 282nd Ave Town Of Birch Cr
Campgrounds
- Brunet Island State Park Campground
- Otter Lake Campground
- Morris-Erickson Campground
- Bruce Village Park
- Lake Wissota State Park Campground
- Lake Wissota State Park
Track Holcombe 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 Holcombe
Where does the data for Holcombe 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 Holcombe .