Lake Geneva dam
Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva, also known as Geneva Lake, is a stunning body of water located in Walworth County, Wisconsin. This private lake serves as a popular recreational destination, offering activities such as boating, fishing, and swimming in its 5,262-acre surface area. The dam at Lake Geneva, completed in 1836, stands at a height of 14 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 40,000 acre-feet.
Managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Lake Geneva's dam has a controlled spillway type and a low hazard potential, with a satisfactory condition assessment as of October 2019. Despite its low hazard potential, the risk assessment for the dam is marked as very high, with a risk level of 1. The lake is fed by the White River and has a drainage area of 36 square miles, with a maximum discharge capacity of 650 cubic feet per second.
Visitors to Lake Geneva can enjoy its picturesque surroundings and abundant recreational opportunities, making it a must-visit destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts looking to explore the natural beauty of Wisconsin.
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 Lake Geneva -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White River At Center Street At Lake Geneva | 0 cfs | → |
| Jackson Creek At Mound Road Near Elkhorn | 4 cfs | → |
| Fox River Near New Munster | 500 cfs | → |
| Piscasaw Creek Near Walworth | 3 cfs | → |
| Nippersink Creek Near Spring Grove | 117 cfs | → |
| Nippersink Creek Above Wonder Lake | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Geneva.
Boat launches
- Geneva Lake -- Wrigley Drive Access (City Of Lake Geneva)
- Schofield Road Town Of Geneva
- Geneva Lake -- Hillside Road Access (Town Of Linn)
- Pell Lake -- Access
- Delavan Lake -- Access Off State Hwy 50
- Powers Lake -- Access Nr County Hwy F
Campgrounds
- Lake Geneva Youth Camp
- Rv Camping @ Big Foot Beach State Park
- Tent Camping @ Big Foot Beach State Park
- North Branch Conservation Area (Cyclists Only)
- Mud Lake West
- Camp Lakota - A Boyscouts Of America Camp
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Lake Geneva 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 Lake Geneva
Where does the data for Lake Geneva 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 Lake Geneva.