Oconto Falls Lower dam
Oconto Falls Lower
Located in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, the Oconto Falls Lower dam stands as a testament to the area's rich history of hydroelectric power generation. Built in 1857, this rockfill dam spans 425 feet across the Oconto River, with a height of 22 feet and a storage capacity of 51 acre-feet. Despite its age, the dam's hazard potential is classified as low, with a moderate risk assessment rating of 3.
Owned and operated by a private entity, the Oconto Falls Lower dam is primarily used for hydroelectric purposes. With a maximum discharge of 5000 cubic feet per second and a spillway width of 186 feet, the dam has played a crucial role in harnessing the power of the river for over a century. Although the dam is not state regulated, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for permitting and enforcement purposes.
As an important part of the local landscape, the Oconto Falls Lower dam serves as a reminder of the region's reliance on water resources for energy production. With its historical significance and continued operational capacity, the dam represents a blend of past traditions and modern infrastructure in the ongoing quest for sustainable and renewable energy sources.
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 Oconto Falls Lower -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Oconto River Near Gillett | 656 cfs | → |
| Oconto River Near Oconto | 759 cfs | → |
| Peshtigo River At Peshtigo | 1,060 cfs | → |
| Duck Creek Near Howard | 27 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Oil Tank Depot At Green Bay | 9,970 cfs | → |
| Peshtigo River At Porterfield | 872 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oconto Falls Lower .
Boat launches
- Oconto Falls Pond - Oconto River -- Access
- Machickanee Flowage -- Access
- Oconto River -- Old Iron Bridge - Nr Us Hwy 141
- Finnegan Lake -- Access
- Porcupine Lake -- Access At Sw Side Of Lake
- Kelly Lake - Boat Landing
Campgrounds
- Holtwood
- Shawano County Park
- Shawano County Fairgrounds
- Chute Pond Park
- Fischer Memorial County Park
- Cecil B. Depeau Bay Shore Park Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- Sec 12/13 Line, T35n, R16e To Forest Boundary In Sec 24, T35n, R16e
- Confluence With Armstrong Creek To Sec 12/13 Line, T35n, R16e
- 1/4 Mile Upstream From Evans Bridge To Confluence With Armstrong Creek
- 1/4 Mile Downstream From Ccc Bridge To 1/4 Mile Upstream From Evans Bridge
- Railroad Bridge To 1/4 Mile Downstream From The Ccc Bridge
Track Oconto Falls Lower 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 Oconto Falls Lower
Where does the data for Oconto Falls Lower 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 Oconto Falls Lower .