Brooks And Ross dam
Brooks And Ross
Brooks and Ross is a local government-owned dam located in Marathon, Wisconsin, along the Eau Claire River. Completed in 1850, this gravity-type dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 184 acres and a drainage area of 404 acres. With a maximum discharge capacity of 12,300 cubic feet per second and a height of 12 feet, the dam provides a low hazard potential but is categorized as having a very high risk due to its age and condition assessment not being rated.
Despite its age, Brooks and Ross Dam remains state-regulated and maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR), with regular inspections occurring every 10 years. The dam's normal storage capacity is 802 acre-feet, with a maximum storage of 1,200 acre-feet. The controlled spillway type and the dam's location within the St. Paul District of the US Army Corps of Engineers contribute to its structural integrity. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in 2013, and it meets the necessary guidelines for risk management, although there are no inundation maps prepared for potential flooding scenarios. Overall, Brooks and Ross Dam presents an intriguing case study for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the conservation and management of aging infrastructure in the face of increasing environmental challenges.
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 Brooks And Ross -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin River At Rothschild | 2,210 cfs | → |
| Eau Claire River At Kelly | 170 cfs | → |
| Rib River At Rib Falls | 93 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Merrill | 2,030 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Merrill | 129 cfs | → |
| Big Eau Pleine River At Stratford | 25 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brooks And Ross.
Boat launches
- Eau Claire Flowage -- Access
- Lake Wausau -- Access Nr Oriole Ln
- Wisconsin River, Below Tailrace Of Rothschild Dam
- Memorial Park Boat Ramp
- Lake Wausau -- Access At 3rd Ave
- Wisconsin River - Lake Wausau -- Access - Nr River Drive
Campgrounds
- Marathon Park
- Rib Mountain State Park
- Dells Of The Eau Claire Park - Wausau
- South Unit Campground
- West Unit Campground
- Council Grounds State Park
More reservoirs
Track Brooks And Ross 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 Brooks And Ross
Where does the data for Brooks And Ross 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 Brooks And Ross.