French Creek Wildlife Upper dam
French Creek Wildlife Upper
French Creek Wildlife Upper, also known as Spring Creek, is a state-regulated water resource located in Columbia, Wisconsin. The dam, completed in 1958, stands at a height of 6.5 feet and has a storage capacity of 52 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is to control the flow of the Spring Creek, with a maximum discharge capacity of 334 cubic feet per second.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, the French Creek Wildlife Upper dam is considered to have a very high risk due to its location and potential impact on the surrounding area. The dam is subject to regular inspections by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, with the last assessment conducted in July 2017 and deemed satisfactory. Emergency action plans are in place, although updates on emergency contacts and inundation maps are needed.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the French Creek Wildlife Upper dam serves as an important structure in managing water flow and storage in the region. With its controlled spillway and state-regulated status, the dam plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of the area. Despite its risk assessment, the dam continues to operate safely under the oversight of state regulatory agencies, ensuring the protection of the environment and surrounding communities.
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 French Creek Wildlife Upper -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Baraboo River Near Baraboo | 385 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River Near Wisconsin Dells | 9,040 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Princeton | 1,120 cfs | → |
| White Creek @ Spring Grove Road Nr Green Lake | 6 cfs | → |
| Green Lake Inlet At Ct Highwy A Near Green Lake | 67 cfs | → |
| Puchyan River Ds N. Lawson Drive Nr Green Lake | 115 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near French Creek Wildlife Upper.
Boat launches
- Swan Lake -- Public Boat Access
- Fox River Road Town Of Buffalo
- Silver Lake -- Access At City Park - Se Corner Of Lake Off Silver Lake Dr
- Lake George -- Access
- Park Lake -- Access
- Spring Lake -- Access
Campgrounds
- Indian Trails Campground
- Veterans Memorial Field - Portage
- Crooked River Campground
- Jamison Town Park
- Shiloh
- Gettysburg
Track French Creek Wildlife Upper 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 French Creek Wildlife Upper
Where does the data for French Creek Wildlife Upper 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 French Creek Wildlife Upper.