Owen City dam
Owen City
Owen City, located in Clark, Wisconsin, is home to the Owen City Dam on Brick Creek. Built in 1938 for recreational purposes, this gravity dam stands at 14 feet tall and spans 80 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 90 acre-feet. The dam's controlled spillway can handle a maximum discharge of 2500 cubic feet per second, ensuring the safety of the surrounding area.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the Owen City Dam has a fair condition assessment as of May 2020. The dam is under the regulatory oversight of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its continued safe operation. With a risk assessment rating of Very High (1), measures for risk management and emergency action planning are crucial for mitigating potential hazards associated with the dam.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Owen City offers a fascinating insight into the intersection of human infrastructure and natural waterways. As a local government-owned structure, the Owen City Dam serves as a recreational asset while also posing challenges in terms of risk management and safety. Its presence on Brick Creek contributes to the unique landscape of the area, highlighting the importance of sound dam regulation and maintenance practices in preserving both the environment and public 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 Owen City -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Eau Pleine River At Stratford | 25 cfs | → |
| Black River At Neillsville | 196 cfs | → |
| Jump River At Sheldon | 198 cfs | → |
| Rib River At Rib Falls | 93 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River At Chippewa Falls | 3,370 cfs | → |
| Flambeau River Near Bruce | 1,710 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Owen City.
Boat launches
- Diamond Lake -- Access
- Mead Lake -- Access
- Richter Lake -- Ramp
- Medford Millpond (Black River) -- Carry-In Access
- Kathryn Lake -- Access
Track Owen City 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 Owen City
Where does the data for Owen City 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 Owen City.