Turtle-Flambeau dam
Turtle-Flambeau
Turtle-Flambeau is a concrete dam located in Iron, Wisconsin, with a fascinating history dating back to its completion in 1926. This dam stands 26 feet tall and spans 9150 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 239,000 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the North Fork Flambeau River, within the jurisdiction of the state of Wisconsin, and operated by a Public Utility.
The dam's primary purpose and associated structures are not explicitly stated, but it is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and falls under their inspection and enforcement purview. With a spillway width of 57 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 16,000 cubic feet per second, the dam poses a high hazard potential, prompting a very high risk assessment ranking. The emergency action plan for the dam was last revised in December 2019, indicating ongoing efforts to ensure public safety and preparedness in the event of an emergency.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Turtle-Flambeau presents a compelling case study in dam infrastructure management and risk assessment. The dam's historical significance, hydraulic specifications, and regulatory oversight by FERC make it a noteworthy site for further research and exploration. Understanding the intricate balance between water resource management, infrastructure maintenance, and emergency preparedness is crucial in safeguarding both the environment and local communities in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing water-related risks.
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 Turtle-Flambeau -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear River Near Manitowish Waters | 99 cfs | → |
| Trout River At Trout Lake Near Boulder Junction | 30 cfs | → |
| North Creek @ Trout Lake Nr Boulder Junction | 3 cfs | → |
| Bad River Near Mellen | 101 cfs | → |
| Allequash Creek At Cth M Nr Boulder Junction | 11 cfs | → |
| Stevenson Creek At Cth M Nr Boulder Junction | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Turtle-Flambeau .
Boat launches
- Dam Road Town Of Mercer
- Town Of Sherman
- Fisherman's Landing Road Town Of Mercer
- Turtle Flambeau Flowage -- Sturgeon Bay Landing Access
- Chippewa Road Town Of Mercer
- Turtle Flambeau Flowage -- Lake Of The Falls County Park
Campgrounds
- Lake Of The Falls Campgrounds
- Twin Lakes Recreation Area Campground
- Twin Lakes Recreation Area
- Smith Rapids Campground
- Emily Lake Recreation Area Campground
- Emily Lake Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Track Turtle-Flambeau 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 Turtle-Flambeau
Where does the data for Turtle-Flambeau 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 Turtle-Flambeau .