New Auburn Wildlife Area dam
New Auburn Wildlife Area
New Auburn Wildlife Area in Barron, Wisconsin is a state-owned recreational area situated along Beaver Creek, featuring an Earth dam completed in 1978. The dam stands at 6.5 feet high and serves various purposes including recreation, with a storage capacity of 480 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 115 acre-feet. The wildlife area covers a surface area of 115 acres and has a drainage area of 29.4 square miles, providing a tranquil setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.
The controlled spillway at New Auburn Wildlife Area helps regulate water flow, with a maximum discharge capacity of 200 cubic feet per second. The dam has a low hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition, but it undergoes inspection every 10 years to ensure safety measures are in place. The risk assessment for the area is very high, indicating the importance of proactive management and monitoring to mitigate potential risks and ensure the protection of the surrounding ecosystem and communities. With its picturesque location and recreational opportunities, New Auburn Wildlife Area is a haven for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the natural beauty of Wisconsin's landscape.
Visitors to New Auburn Wildlife Area can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, birdwatching, and fishing along Beaver Creek. The area is managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR) and is a designated state-regulated site, with permits, inspections, and enforcement measures in place to ensure compliance with state regulations. Despite its low hazard potential, the wildlife area is subject to a high risk assessment, highlighting the need for ongoing risk management strategies to safeguard the integrity of the dam and surrounding environment. Whether seeking a peaceful retreat or an outdoor adventure, New Auburn Wildlife Area offers a unique blend of natural beauty and recreational opportunities for water resource and climate enthusiasts to experience and enjoy.
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 New Auburn Wildlife Area -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red Cedar River Near Colfax | 850 cfs | → |
| Flambeau River Near Bruce | 2,210 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Bruce | 1,200 cfs | → |
| Hay River At Wheeler | 348 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River At Chippewa Falls | 6,280 cfs | → |
| Jump River At Sheldon | 1,070 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near New Auburn Wildlife Area.
Boat launches
- Bass Lake -- Access At Near 27 1/4th Street
- Loon Lake -- Access
- Axhandle Lake -- Access At E Side Of Lake Off 100th St
- Tenmile Lake -- Access
- Lake Chetek -- Access
Campgrounds
- Southworth County Park
- Morris-Erickson Campground
- Myron Park
- Myron County Park
- Myron Park & Campground
- Veterans Memorial Park - Cameron
More reservoirs
Track New Auburn Wildlife Area 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 New Auburn Wildlife Area
Where does the data for New Auburn Wildlife Area 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 New Auburn Wildlife Area.