Montello Granite dam
Montello Granite
Montello Granite, located in Marquette, Wisconsin, is a concrete dam constructed in 1914 for hydroelectric and recreational purposes. With a height of 24 feet and a hydraulic height of 18.4 feet, this dam spans 55 feet in length and has a storage capacity of 3,300 acre-feet. Situated on the Montello River, this dam not only serves as a source of water storage but also provides opportunities for recreation in the area.
Despite its age, Montello Granite is maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, with regular inspections ensuring its structural integrity. The dam has a controlled spillway with a width of 17 feet, allowing for the safe release of excess water during periods of high flow. The hazard potential is rated as high, but the condition assessment in 2020 deemed it to be fair, indicating that necessary maintenance and upgrades are being carried out to mitigate risks and ensure public safety.
In summary, Montello Granite is a historic dam that continues to play a vital role in water resource management and recreation in the region. With a rich history dating back over a century, this concrete structure stands as a testament to the ingenuity of past generations in harnessing the power of water for multiple purposes. As climate change poses new challenges to water management, the maintenance and monitoring of dams like Montello Granite are essential to safeguarding communities and ecosystems in the face of evolving environmental conditions.
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 Montello Granite -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fox River At Princeton | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Puchyan River Ds N. Lawson Drive Nr Green Lake | 115 cfs | → |
| White Creek @ Spring Grove Road Nr Green Lake | 6 cfs | → |
| Green Lake Inlet At Ct Highwy A Near Green Lake | 67 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Berlin | 1,570 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River Near Wisconsin Dells | 9,040 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Montello Granite.
Track Montello Granite 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 Montello Granite
Where does the data for Montello Granite 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 Montello Granite.