Lower Nine Mile dam
Lower Nine Mile
Lower Nine Mile is a privately owned gravity dam located on Nine Mile Creek in Oneida County, Wisconsin. Constructed in 1907, the dam serves primarily for hydroelectric power generation and flood risk reduction purposes. Standing at a height of 12 feet and spanning 186 feet in length, the dam has a storage capacity of 2,617 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 704 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Lower Nine Mile has a low hazard potential and is categorized as a very high-risk structure. Despite its age, the dam has not undergone condition assessment, but emergency action plans have been prepared and updated periodically. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 26 feet and is equipped with slide and tainter gates for water release.
Enthusiasts in water resource management and climate change can find interest in Lower Nine Mile for its historical significance and the operational challenges it faces as a key infrastructure for hydroelectric power generation in the region. The dam's location within a state-regulated jurisdiction in Wisconsin offers a unique insight into the regulatory framework governing dam safety and maintenance practices, making it a valuable case study for sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Lower Nine Mile -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge Ck-Muskellunge L Otl-Nr Eagle River | 2 cfs | → |
| Muskellunge Creek Near St. Germain | 9 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River @ Rainbow Lake Nr Lake Tomahawk | 626 cfs | → |
| Allequash Creek Site 3 Near Boulder Junction | 4 cfs | → |
| Iron River At County Hwy-424 At Caspian | 86 cfs | → |
| Allequash Creek At Cth M Nr Boulder Junction | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Nine Mile .
Boat launches
- Ninemile Road Town Of Washington
- Anvil Lake -- Access
- Big Fork Lake -- Access At Ne Side Lake Fourmile Creek Rd
- Catfish Lake -- Boat Launch
- Eagle Lake Boat Launch
- Medicine Lake -- Access At W Side Of Lake Nr Hwy X
Campgrounds
- Seven Mile Lake Campground
- Anvil Lake Recreation Area
- Laurel Lake
- Laurel Lake Recreation Area
- Franklin Lake Recreation Area
- Luna - White Deer Lake Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Main Branch--Headwaters To Forest Road 2174
- North Branch--Butternut Lake To Confluence With Main Branch
- Forest Road 2174 To Private Bridge
- Private Bridge To Highway 55
- North Branch--Origin In Sec 10, T38n, R13e To 1/4 Mile West Of Highway 55
- 1/4 Mile West Of Highway 55 To Confluence With Main Branch
Track Lower Nine Mile 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 Lower Nine Mile
Where does the data for Lower Nine Mile 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 Lower Nine Mile .