Gordon dam
Gordon
Gordon, a privately owned hydroelectric dam located in Wisconsin, along the Eau Claire river, stands as a significant structure with a storied history dating back to its completion in 1932. With a primary purpose of generating hydroelectric power, Gordon also offers recreational opportunities to the local community. The earth-type dam reaches a height of 33 feet and stretches 1550 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 740 acre-feet and a drainage area of 33 square miles.
Despite its historical significance, Gordon faces challenges in terms of its condition assessment, which has been rated as poor as of March 2016. The dam's hazard potential is deemed significant, with a very high risk assessment score of 1, warranting attention to its maintenance and risk management measures. The last inspection was conducted in September 2010, with a scheduled frequency of every 3 years, highlighting the need for regular monitoring and upkeep to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure.
As a vital component of the local water resource infrastructure, Gordon's condition and maintenance are of utmost importance in safeguarding both its operational functionality and the surrounding environment. With its location in a high-risk area and the potential impact of a failure deemed significant, proactive measures and investments in its upkeep are essential to mitigate risks and ensure the continued operation of this hydroelectric facility for generations to come.
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 Gordon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Namekagon River At Leonards | 154 cfs | → |
| Bois Brule River At Brule | 167 cfs | → |
| St. Croix River Near Danbury | 1,320 cfs | → |
| Nemadji River Near South Superior | 508 cfs | → |
| North Fish Creek Near Moquah | 55 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River At Bishops Bridge Near Winter | 600 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gordon.
Boat launches
- Two Mile Lake - Lynch Rd Access
- Sauntrys Pocket -- Access
- Red Lake -- Access At Heinz Rd.
- Mulligan Lake -- Cty Rd G Access
- Alexander Lake -- E Alexander Lake Rd Access
- Leader Lake -- Access
Campgrounds
- Gordon Flowage
- Gordan Dam
- Gordon Dam
- Gordon Dam Park Landing
- Lucius Woods County Park
- Totagatic County Park Campground
Paddle runs
- Upper Saint Louis
- Forest Road 162 Crossing To Bridge On Blaisdell Lake
- East Forest Boundary To Forest Road 162 Crossing
- The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam To The Confluence With St. Croix River
- Carlton County State Aid Highway #12 Bridge To The Site Of Old Sandstone Hydroelectric Dam
Track Gordon 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 Gordon
Where does the data for Gordon 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 Gordon.