Mason Marcks Forsythe 1 dam
Mason Marcks Forsythe 1
Mason Marcks Forsythe 1 is a gravity dam located in Pepin, Wisconsin, along the tributary Little Plum Creek. Constructed in 1978 by the USDA NRCS, this private-owned dam serves a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. With a height of 25 feet and a length of 540 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 76 acre-feet and a normal storage of 7 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3.
Managed by the WIDNR, Mason Marcks Forsythe 1 is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state agency. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway type and has a maximum discharge capacity of 118 cubic feet per second. Although it has not been rated for condition assessment, the dam has a regular inspection frequency of 10 years, with the last inspection conducted in April 2010. With its location in a flood-prone area, the dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks for the surrounding community.
In summary, Mason Marcks Forsythe 1 is an essential infrastructure for flood risk reduction in Pepin, Wisconsin. Managed by the WIDNR and designed by the USDA NRCS, this gravity dam provides critical protection along the tributary Little Plum Creek. With its moderate risk assessment rating and regular inspection schedule, the dam ensures the safety and security of the area by effectively managing water resources and climate 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 Mason Marcks Forsythe 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chippewa River At Durand | 5,070 cfs | → |
| Zumbro River At Kellogg | 1,550 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Red Wing | 19,000 cfs | → |
| Eau Galle River At Spring Valley | 17 cfs | → |
| Red Cedar River At Menomonie | 1,010 cfs | → |
| Cannon River At Welch | 375 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mason Marcks Forsythe 1.
Boat launches
- Chippewa River -- Ella Boat Landing
- Mississippi River -- Deer Island Landing
- Dead Lake -- Access
- Mississippi River -- Pepin Town Landing
- Mississippi River -- Stockholm
- Chippewa River -- Access
Campgrounds
- Lake Pepin Campground
- Stockholm Village Park
- Holden Park Campground
- Hok-Si-La Park Campground
- Frontenac State Park Cart-In
- Nugget Lake County Park
Fishing spots
Track Mason Marcks Forsythe 1 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 Mason Marcks Forsythe 1
Where does the data for Mason Marcks Forsythe 1 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 Mason Marcks Forsythe 1.