Rapids dam
Rapids
Located in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Rapids (also known as Manitowoc Rapids) is a privately owned dam on the Manitowoc River. Completed in 1915, this gravity dam stands at 16 feet tall and stretches 400 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet. With a primary purpose of recreation, Rapids offers a surface area of 17 acres and a drainage area of 545 square miles.
Despite its recreational appeal, Rapids poses a significant hazard potential with a very high risk assessment rating. While the dam is regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections and enforcement, its condition remains unrated and calls for increased risk management measures. The dam's spillway, controlled in nature, has a hydraulic height of 7 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 9141 cubic feet per second.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the data for Rapids serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and managing our dams to mitigate risks and ensure public safety. With a rich history dating back over a century, Rapids stands as both a recreational landmark and a potential hazard, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to protect both the environment and the surrounding community.
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 Rapids -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Manitowoc River At Manitowoc | 239 cfs | → |
| Otter Creek At Willow Road Near Plymouth | 31 cfs | → |
| Sheboygan River At Sheboygan | 360 cfs | → |
| Kewaunee River Near Kewaunee | 74 cfs | → |
| East River At Ct Highway Zz Near Greenleaf | 8 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Oil Tank Depot At Green Bay | 3,570 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rapids.
Boat launches
- Silver Lake -- Access At Just Off Hwy 151 Manitowoc
- Lake Michigan -- Manitowoc Marina
- Lake Michigan -- Red Arrow City Park
- Gass Lake -- Access At Ne Side Of Lake
- Hartlaub Lake -- Access At Nw Side Of Lake W
- Weyers Lake -- Access At S Side Of Lake
Track Rapids 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 Rapids
Where does the data for Rapids 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 Significant 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 Rapids.