Turtle-Flambeau Detached Dike 1 dam
Turtle-Flambeau Detached Dike 1
Turtle-Flambeau Detached Dike 1, located in Iron, Wisconsin, is a public utility structure managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Built in 1926, this earth dam stands at a height of 12 feet and has a storage capacity of 239,000 acre-feet. The dam plays a crucial role in flood control and water management in the region, with a high hazard potential due to its significant storage capacity.
Associated with eight other structures, Turtle-Flambeau Detached Dike 1 has not been inspected since September 2019, with a high risk potential and no condition assessment available. While it meets regulatory guidelines, there is no Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared, raising concerns about emergency preparedness. With a history of serving the community for nearly a century, ongoing monitoring and maintenance are essential to ensure the safety and integrity of this vital water resource infrastructure.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the importance of regular inspections, risk assessments, and emergency preparedness for structures like Turtle-Flambeau Detached Dike 1 cannot be overstated. With its strategic location and significant storage capacity, this dam plays a crucial role in protecting downstream communities and ecosystems from potential flooding events. Ongoing collaboration between federal and state agencies is essential to ensure the continued safety and effectiveness of this key water management structure.
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 Detached Dike 1 -- 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 | → |
| Bad River Near Mellen | 101 cfs | → |
| North Creek @ Trout Lake Nr Boulder Junction | 3 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 Detached Dike 1 .
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 Detached Dike 1 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 Detached Dike 1
Where does the data for Turtle-Flambeau Detached Dike 1 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 Detached Dike 1 .