Popple Creek dam
Popple Creek
Popple Creek, located in Phillips, Wisconsin, is a Federal-owned Fish and Wildlife Pond managed by the USDA Forest Service. Completed in 1989, the Earth dam stands at 15 feet tall and spans 250 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 1100 acre-feet. The dam serves the primary purpose of providing habitat for fish and wildlife in the area.
With a drainage area of 2 square miles, Popple Creek's dam has a low hazard potential and is classified as having a moderate risk level. The uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 6 feet, allows for a maximum discharge of 90 cubic feet per second. Despite not being rated for condition assessment, the dam's last inspection in August 2011 revealed no immediate concerns.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Popple Creek offers a fascinating case study in the management of a small-scale dam for ecological conservation. The dam's role in creating a habitat for fish and wildlife highlights the importance of sustainable water resource practices in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem health. Additionally, the dam's construction and maintenance by the Forest Service exemplify the collaborative efforts between federal agencies to support environmental initiatives 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 Popple Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear River Near Manitowish Waters | 54 cfs | → |
| Trout River At Trout Lake Near Boulder Junction | 30 cfs | → |
| Spirit River At Spirit Falls | 57 cfs | → |
| Allequash Creek At Cth M Nr Boulder Junction | 11 cfs | → |
| North Creek @ Trout Lake Nr Boulder Junction | 3 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River @ Rainbow Lake Nr Lake Tomahawk | 928 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Popple Creek.
Boat launches
- Sailor Lake Road Town Of Fifield
- South Fork Flambeau River -- Access At East Rd
- South Fork Flambeau River -- Carry In Access E Of Shady Knoll Rd
- Big Dardis Lake -- Landing
- Pike - Round Lake Chain -- Round Lake Boat Launch
- Pike - Round Lake Chain -- Round Lake Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Sailor Lake Recreation Area
- Sailor Lake Recreation Area Campground
- Smith Rapids Campground
- Solberg Lake County Park Campground
- Twin Lakes Recreation Area
- Twin Lakes Recreation Area Campground
Fishing spots
Track Popple Creek 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 Popple Creek
Where does the data for Popple Creek 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 Popple Creek.