Mead dam
Mead
Mead, located in Clark County, Wisconsin, is a dam on the South Fork Eau Claire River primarily used for recreational purposes. Built in 1951, this earthen dam stands at 28 feet tall and spans 1600 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 1534 acre-feet. The dam has a low hazard potential and is currently in fair condition according to a recent assessment in December 2020.
With a drainage area of 108.2 square miles and a maximum discharge of 14,360 cubic feet per second, Mead plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. The dam's controlled spillway and very high risk assessment highlight its importance in flood control and risk mitigation efforts. Despite its age, Mead continues to be regulated, inspected, and enforced by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to ensure its structural integrity and safety for the surrounding community.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Mead serves as a fascinating example of how human-made structures can have a lasting impact on the natural environment. As efforts to manage and conserve water resources become increasingly important in the face of climate change, understanding the functions and condition of dams like Mead is essential for sustainable water management practices. By staying informed and engaged with the status of such critical infrastructure, enthusiasts can contribute to the ongoing conversation about the intersection of water resources, climate resilience, and community safety.
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 Mead -- 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 | → |
| Big Eau Pleine River At Stratford | 25 cfs | → |
| Black River Ds St Hwy 54 @ Black River Falls | 652 cfs | → |
| Jump River At Sheldon | 198 cfs | → |
| Rib River At Rib Falls | 93 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mead.
Boat launches
- Mead Lake -- Access
- Rock Dam Lake -- Access
- Coon Fork Lake -- Access
- Lake Eau Claire -- Access Nr County Rd South Dakota
- Lake Eau Claire -- Access - Nd Cir
Track Mead 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 Mead
Where does the data for Mead 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 Mead.