Melrose dam
Melrose
Melrose, also known as the Melrose Flouring Mill, is a historic dam located in Jackson County, Wisconsin, along Douglas Creek. Completed in 1864, this arch-type dam stands at a height of 40 feet and has a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet. While its primary purpose is for recreation, the dam is also state-regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, with inspections and enforcement conducted regularly to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
With a significant hazard potential and an unsatisfactory condition assessment, Melrose poses a moderate risk, prompting the need for continued monitoring and risk management measures. The dam has a spillway type of uncontrolled and a maximum discharge capacity of 414 cubic feet per second. Despite being an older structure, Melrose remains a vital part of the local water resource infrastructure, providing both recreational opportunities and historical significance to the community.
Located in the city of Melrose, this dam serves as a reminder of the region's rich history and the importance of water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the role and condition of structures like Melrose is crucial in ensuring the sustainable use and preservation of our natural resources for future generations.
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 Melrose -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black River Ds St Hwy 54 @ Black River Falls | 652 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Galesville | 1,290 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River At Sparta | 209 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River Near La Crosse | 425 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Arcadia | 555 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Dodge | 593 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Melrose.
Boat launches
- Black River -- North Bend Access
- Mark Holmgren Memorial Landing -- Access
- Neshonoc Lake -- Swarthout Park Boat Ramp
- State Highway 162 Bangor
- Neshonoc Lake -- Access
- Lake Henry -- Public Boat Landing
Campgrounds
- Castle Mound - Black River State Forest
- Champions Riverside Resort
- Staff Row
- Neshonoc Lakeside Camp Resort
- Iroquois
- Lower Comanche
Track Melrose 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 Melrose
Where does the data for Melrose 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 Significant 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 Melrose.