Twin Parks 7 dam
Twin Parks 7
Twin Parks 7, also known as Birch Lake, is a recreational dam in Wisconsin managed by the local government with oversight from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Completed in 1963, this earth dam stands at 37.6 feet tall and spans 540 feet, providing storage for 230 acre-feet of water and serving as a popular spot for outdoor activities in the area. The dam's purpose is primarily for recreation, with a spillway type of Controlled and a maximum discharge capacity of 550 cubic feet per second.
Despite its fair condition assessment, Twin Parks 7 poses a high hazard potential due to its location on Trout Creek and its high risk assessment rating. Regular inspections are conducted, with the last one taking place in May 2019, and an emergency action plan is in place to ensure public safety in the event of a dam failure. With its very high risk and potential impact on the surrounding community, continued maintenance and monitoring of Twin Parks 7 are crucial to prevent any future incidents and protect the ecosystem and water resources in the area.
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 Twin Parks 7 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black Earth Creek At Black Earth | 51 cfs | → |
| Brewery Creek-Upstream Site-At Cross Plains | 2 cfs | → |
| East Br Pecatonica River Near Blanchardville | 183 cfs | → |
| Badger Mill Creek At Verona | 11 cfs | → |
| Pheasant Branch At Airport Road Nr Middleton | 2 cfs | → |
| Pheasant Branch At Middleton | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Twin Parks 7.
Boat launches
- Trout Creek - Birch Lake -- Access
- Mill Creek At Mill Rd
- Twin Valley Lake Boat Ramp
- Cox Hollow Lake -- Access
- Wisconsin River -- Pecks Landing
- Helen Lake -- Landing
Campgrounds
- Blue Mound State Park
- Brigham Park
- Twin Valley Campground
- Governor Dodge State Park
- Governor Dodge State Park Campground
- Tower Hill State Park Campground
Paddle runs
- Honey Creek (County Road Y On The Southern Bank) To The State Route 130 Highway Bridge Crossing At Lone Rock
- Lone Rock To The Confluence Of The Green And Wisconsin Rivers
- The Big Green River To The River's Mouth At The Mississippi River
More reservoirs
Track Twin Parks 7 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 Twin Parks 7
Where does the data for Twin Parks 7 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 High 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 Twin Parks 7.