Meadow Valley Spillway 7 dam
Meadow Valley Spillway 7
Meadow Valley Spillway 7, located in Juneau, Wisconsin, is a state-regulated dam with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1938, this earth dam stands at a height of 8 feet and spans a length of 23,000 feet, with a storage capacity of 2,300 acre-feet. Situated on the Little Yellow Drainage Ditch, this controlled spillway features a low hazard potential and has a maximum discharge capacity of 1,800 cubic feet per second.
Despite its age, Meadow Valley Spillway 7 continues to be inspected regularly by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, with the last inspection conducted in September 2011. The dam is deemed to have a very high risk level, with a risk assessment rating of 1. However, its condition is currently not rated, indicating the need for further assessment and potential maintenance or upgrades to ensure its structural integrity and safety for surrounding communities.
As a key recreational structure in the area, Meadow Valley Spillway 7 plays a vital role in providing water storage for various activities while also managing flood control. With its historical significance and ongoing regulatory oversight, this dam serves as an important landmark in the local landscape, contributing to water resource management efforts and climate resiliency in the region.
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 Meadow Valley Spillway 7 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow River At Babcock | 51 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Necedah | 240 cfs | → |
| Tenmile Creek Near Nekoosa | 126 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Wisconsin Rapids | 3,370 cfs | → |
| Lemonweir River At New Lisbon | 309 cfs | → |
| Black River At Neillsville | 311 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Meadow Valley Spillway 7.
Boat launches
- Lake Dexter -- Access On Sw Side Of Lake
- Lake Dexter -- Access Off State Hwy 80
- Petenwell Lake - 20th Drive Access - Wisconsin River Power Company (Wrpco)
- Petenwell Lake - Wilderness Park Access
- Petenwell Lake -- 20th Drive Access
- Potter Flowage -- Access
Track Meadow Valley Spillway 7 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 Meadow Valley Spillway 7
Where does the data for Meadow Valley Spillway 7 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 Meadow Valley Spillway 7.