Milwaukee dam
Milwaukee
Milwaukee, located in Wisconsin, is home to a significant gravity dam known as North Avenue. Built in 1835 for recreational purposes, this dam has a height of 19 feet and a length of 432 feet. With a storage capacity of 420 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 17,900 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing the Milwaukee River's flow and providing recreational opportunities for the local community.
Despite its age, the North Avenue dam in Milwaukee is still in operation and regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. With a significant hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating, efforts to assess and manage the dam's condition and safety are ongoing. While the dam's condition is currently not rated, regular inspections and emergency preparedness measures are in place to ensure the safety of the surrounding area in case of any unforeseen events.
As a hub for water resource and climate enthusiasts, Milwaukee offers a unique opportunity to study the impact of aging infrastructure on water management and recreational activities. With its rich history dating back to the 19th century, the North Avenue dam serves as a reminder of the city's commitment to preserving its water resources while balancing the needs of its residents and visitors.
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 Milwaukee -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee R @ Jones Island Mouth-At Milwaukee | 94 cfs | → |
| Milwaukee River At Milwaukee | 427 cfs | → |
| Kinnickinnic River @ S. 11th Street @ Milwaukee | 4 cfs | → |
| Lincoln Creek At Sherman Boulevard At Milwaukee | 1 cfs | → |
| Menomonee River At Wauwatosa | 33 cfs | → |
| Honey Creek At Wauwatosa | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Milwaukee.
Boat launches
- East Wright Street Milwaukee
- Lakeshore State Park, Milwaukee
- Kinnickinnic River -- River Front
- Upper Kelly Lake - Access Off S Kurtz Road
- South Main Street 136, Thiensville
- Milwaukee River -- Thiensville Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Camp Ammon
- Naga-Waukee County Park Campground
- Phantom Ranch Bible Camp
- Mukwonago County Park Campground
- Pinewoods Campground
- Ottawa Lake Campground
Track Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee
Where does the data for Milwaukee 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 Significant 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 Milwaukee.