Coon Creek dam
Coon Creek
Coon Creek, located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is a recreational dam with a primary purpose of providing outdoor enjoyment for visitors. Completed in 1964, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 28 feet and spans 700 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 1,200 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 563 acre-feet, Coon Creek offers a surface area of 75 acres and serves a drainage area of 45 square miles.
Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Coon Creek poses a very high risk due to its location and potential impact in case of a failure. Managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the dam is subject to regular inspections, with the last assessment conducted in May 2020. While the dam meets state regulatory standards for permitting, inspection, and enforcement, there are no emergency action plans in place as of the latest data update in March 2021.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Coon Creek presents an opportunity to explore the intersection of human infrastructure and natural ecosystems. With its controlled spillway and recreational focus, this dam serves as a reminder of the importance of balancing environmental stewardship with public enjoyment in managing water resources. As discussions around climate change and water management continue to evolve, Coon Creek serves as a case study for sustainable dam operation and risk assessment in an ever-changing world.
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 Coon Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black River At Neillsville | 196 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River At Chippewa Falls | 3,370 cfs | → |
| Black River Ds St Hwy 54 @ Black River Falls | 652 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Arcadia | 555 cfs | → |
| Red Cedar River Near Colfax | 841 cfs | → |
| Jump River At Sheldon | 198 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Coon Creek.
Boat launches
- Coon Fork Lake -- Access
- Lake Eau Claire -- Access Nr County Rd South Dakota
- Lake Eau Claire -- Access - Nd Cir
- Lake Eau Claire --- Access Near Sd Ln
- Rock Dam Lake -- Access
- Fall Creek Pond -- Access
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Coon 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 Coon Creek
Where does the data for Coon 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 Coon Creek.