Menomonie dam
Menomonie
Menomonie is a private hydroelectric dam located in Dunn County, Wisconsin, along the Red Cedar River. Built in 1848, this gravity dam stands at a height of 42 feet and has a structural height of 42 feet, with a length of 540 feet. It serves multiple purposes including hydroelectric power generation and recreation, with a normal storage capacity of 15,900 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 20,500 acre-feet.
With a high hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating, Menomonie dam is considered to be in a risky condition, although the condition assessment is currently not rated. The dam has not been inspected recently, with an inspection frequency of every 2 years. The emergency action plan (EAP) for the dam was last revised in December 2019, but it is unclear if it meets current guidelines. Despite these challenges, Menomonie dam continues to play a crucial role in water resource management and energy production in the area, under the jurisdiction of the state of Wisconsin and the oversight of the Detroit District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
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 Menomonie -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red Cedar River At Menomonie | 1,090 cfs | → |
| Hay River At Wheeler | 334 cfs | → |
| Eau Galle River At Spring Valley | 20 cfs | → |
| Red Cedar River Near Colfax | 797 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River At Durand | 7,560 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River At Chippewa Falls | 4,260 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Menomonie.
Boat launches
- Lake Menomin -- Stout Landing
- Lake Menomin -- Access - Off Hwy 12
- Red Cedar River -- Access At Sth 29 Menomonie
- Lake Menomin -- Point Comfort Landing
- Lake Menomin -- Wakanda Park Boat Landing
- Red Cedar River -- Access At 550th St And 690th Ave Town Of Red Cedar
Track Menomonie 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 Menomonie
Where does the data for Menomonie 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 Menomonie.