Brodhead dam
Brodhead
Brodhead, located in Green County, Wisconsin, is a gravity dam built in 1849 on the Sugar River. With a primary purpose of recreation, this dam stands at a height of 10 feet and has a hydraulic height of 7 feet. It has a storage capacity of 1,150 acre-feet and a normal storage of 350 acre-feet, serving as a popular spot for outdoor activities in the area.
The dam has undergone modifications in 1915 and 2003, and is regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR). It has a controlled spillway type with a width of 239 feet, and a low hazard potential. The condition assessment of the dam is rated as fair, with the last inspection conducted in May 2020. Despite its low hazard potential, the risk assessment for the dam is very high, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of surrounding communities.
With its rich history dating back to the 19th century, Brodhead Dam continues to be a significant landmark in the region, attracting visitors for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to stay informed about the state of dams like Brodhead to support their sustainable management and preservation for future generations to enjoy.
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 Brodhead -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar River Near Brodhead | 400 cfs | → |
| Badfish Creek Near Cooksville | 108 cfs | → |
| Yahara River Near Fulton | 285 cfs | → |
| Rock River At Afton | 3,240 cfs | → |
| Pecatonica River Nr Shirland | 1,650 cfs | → |
| Yahara River At Forton St. Bridge At Stoughton | 227 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brodhead.
Boat launches
- Lake View Court N3857, Brodhead
- County Road F Town Of Decatur
- State Highway 11 Town Of Spring Grove
- Sugar River -- Albany Park
- Sugar River -- Albany Wildlife Area
- Sugar River -- Access
Campgrounds
- Green County Fairgrounds
- Sugar River Forest Preserve - Riverfront
- Sugar River Forest Preserve - Pine Tree
- New Glarus Woods State Park Campground
- E.T. Seton
- W.D. Boyce
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Honey Creek (County Road Y On The Southern Bank) To The State Route 130 Highway Bridge Crossing At Lone Rock
- Lone Rock To The Confluence Of The Green And Wisconsin Rivers
More reservoirs
Track Brodhead 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 Brodhead
Where does the data for Brodhead 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 Brodhead.