Little Rice River dam
Little Rice River
Little Rice River, also known as Killarney, is a captivating site located in Wood Smoke Subdivision, Oneida, Wisconsin. This dam, completed in 1961, serves the primary purpose of recreation, offering a serene and picturesque setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore. With a dam height of 15 feet and a maximum storage capacity of 2000 acre-feet, the Little Rice River dam provides a tranquil escape for visitors seeking to connect with nature.
Managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, this gravity dam boasts a surface area of 421 acres and a drainage area of 32 square miles. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, the dam has a very high risk rating due to its age and the surrounding environmental factors. Regular inspections and state enforcement ensure the safety and integrity of this structure, making it an ideal destination for those interested in water resources and climate resilience. Whether you're a water enthusiast or a climate advocate, Little Rice River offers a unique opportunity to experience the beauty and importance of water management in 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 Little Rice River -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spirit River At Spirit Falls | 226 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River @ Rainbow Lake Nr Lake Tomahawk | 967 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Merrill | 190 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Merrill | 3,620 cfs | → |
| Muskellunge Creek Near St. Germain | 9 cfs | → |
| Allequash Creek At Cth M Nr Boulder Junction | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Rice River.
Boat launches
- Little Rice Dam Road 11134, Town Of Little Rice
- Swamp Lake -- Access
- Burrows Lake Road 11788, Town Of Little Rice
- Point O Pines Road 9947, Town Of Nokomis
- Nokomis Drive Bradley
- Halfmoon Lake -- Ramp
Campgrounds
- Sara Park
- Otter Lake
- Otter Lake County Park Campground
- Camp New Wood County Park
- Camp New Wood County Park Campground
- Underdown County Park Campground
Track Little Rice River 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 Little Rice River
Where does the data for Little Rice River 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 Little Rice River.