Wire And Nail Factory dam
Wire And Nail Factory
The Wire and Nail Factory, also known as K.M. Company, is a private hydroelectric facility located in Cedarburg, Wisconsin along the Cedar Creek. Built in 1934, this arch dam stands at 28 feet tall and has a length of 83 feet, with a storage capacity of 27 acre-feet. The facility is regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR) and is designed for hydroelectric purposes, with a low hazard potential but in poor condition as of the last assessment in 2017.
Despite its age, the Wire and Nail Factory continues to play a significant role in the region's water resource management, providing a source of renewable energy and supporting the local ecosystem. With a drainage area of 125 square miles and a maximum discharge of 2350 cubic feet per second, the facility has a notable impact on the surrounding environment. However, its poor condition raises concerns about its long-term sustainability and the need for potential rehabilitation efforts in the future.
As climate change continues to pose challenges to water resource management, facilities like the Wire and Nail Factory are crucial for harnessing clean energy and adapting to changing environmental conditions. It is important for stakeholders to prioritize the maintenance and modernization of such infrastructure to ensure the continued resilience and efficiency of our water resources in the face of a rapidly changing climate.
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 Wire And Nail Factory -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Creek Near Cedarburg | 81 cfs | → |
| Milwaukee River Near Cedarburg | 413 cfs | → |
| Little Menomonee River Near Freistadt | 4 cfs | → |
| Menomonee River At Menomonee Falls | 8 cfs | → |
| Little Menomonee River At Milwaukee | 19 cfs | → |
| Lincoln Creek At Sherman Boulevard At Milwaukee | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wire And Nail Factory.
Track Wire And Nail Factory 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 Wire And Nail Factory
Where does the data for Wire And Nail Factory 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 Wire And Nail Factory.