Doberstein Dike -Willow dam
Doberstein Dike -Willow
The Doberstein Dike in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, is a private earth dam completed in 1927 with a primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation and flood risk reduction along the Tomahawk River. The dam stands at a height of 18 feet and a length of 1400 feet, providing a maximum storage capacity of 67,126 acre-feet and a drainage area of 310 square miles. Despite being regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the dam is not currently inspected by state agencies, posing a high hazard potential due to its age and condition assessment not being available.
Located in Oneida County, Wisconsin, the Doberstein Dike plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region. With no spillway and a high hazard potential, the dam's associated structures are closely monitored to ensure public safety and environmental protection. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in December 2018, emphasizing the need for proactive risk management measures and adherence to federal guidelines for emergency preparedness.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the critical role of infrastructure like the Doberstein Dike in balancing water management and hydroelectric power generation is key to promoting sustainable practices and safeguarding communities against potential hazards. With a high hazard potential and a risk assessment rating of 2, continued monitoring and maintenance of the dam are essential to ensure its structural integrity and resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions and increasing water resource challenges.
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 Doberstein Dike -Willow -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin River @ Rainbow Lake Nr Lake Tomahawk | 967 cfs | → |
| Spirit River At Spirit Falls | 226 cfs | → |
| Trout River At Trout Lake Near Boulder Junction | 30 cfs | → |
| Allequash Creek At Cth M Nr Boulder Junction | 11 cfs | → |
| Bear River Near Manitowish Waters | 99 cfs | → |
| Allequash Creek Site 3 Near Boulder Junction | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Doberstein Dike -Willow .
Boat launches
- Willow Dam Road Town Of Little Rice
- Willow Flowage -- Access Off Rozell Rd
- Willow Flowage -- Access
- Rocky Run Flowage -- Access
- Burrows Lake Road 11788, Town Of Little Rice
- West Fork Road Town Of Minoqua
Campgrounds
- Sara Park
- Lac Du Flambeau Tribal Campground
- Emily Lake Recreation Area
- Emily Lake Recreation Area Campground
- Wabasso Lake Campground
- Wabasso Lake Recreation Area
Track Doberstein Dike -Willow 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 Doberstein Dike -Willow
Where does the data for Doberstein Dike -Willow 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 Doberstein Dike -Willow .