Lake Owen Outlet dam
Lake Owen Outlet
Lake Owen Outlet in Wisconsin is a federally owned water resource managed by the USDA Forest Service, designed for recreational purposes such as fishing and wildlife observation. Built in 1936, this earth dam stands at 12 feet high and spans 50 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 4,900 acre-feet and a surface area of 1,050 acres. The outlet controls the flow of the Long Lake Branch, with a maximum discharge capacity of 60 cubic feet per second and an uncontrolled spillway width of 3 feet.
Despite its low hazard potential, Lake Owen Outlet has a moderate risk rating due to its age and lack of recent inspection data. The condition assessment is listed as "Not Rated," and emergency preparedness measures, such as an Emergency Action Plan (EAP), are not currently in place. While the outlet is not regulated by the state, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Forest Service for operations, inspections, and regulatory oversight. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find the Lake Owen Outlet an intriguing case study of a historic dam serving both recreational and ecological purposes in northern Wisconsin.
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 Lake Owen Outlet -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Namekagon River At Leonards | 154 cfs | → |
| North Fish Creek Near Moquah | 55 cfs | → |
| White River Near Ashland | 245 cfs | → |
| Whittlesey Creek Near Ashland | 15 cfs | → |
| Bois Brule River At Brule | 167 cfs | → |
| Bad River Near Mellen | 101 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Owen Outlet.
Boat launches
- Lake Owen Access -- Northwest Side Of Lake
- Bass Lake -- Access At Nw Side Of Lake Off Twin Lakes Campground
- Lake Owen - Otter Bay Landing
- Drummond Lake -- Access At S End Of Lake Off Drummond Lk Rd
- Drummond Lake -- Access At Off Drummond Dam Rd.
- Tahkodah Lake -- Access At S End Of Lake
Campgrounds
- Two Lakes Recreation Area
- Two Lakes Campground
- Two Lakes
- Perch Lake Recreation Area
- Namekagon Lake Recreation Area Campgrounds
- Namekagon Lake Recreation Area
Track Lake Owen Outlet 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 Lake Owen Outlet
Where does the data for Lake Owen Outlet 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 Lake Owen Outlet.