Prentice dam
Prentice
Prentice is a gravity dam located in Price, Wisconsin, on the South Fork Jump river, boasting a rich history dating back to its completion in 1880. With a primary purpose of recreation, this dam stands at 15 feet tall and spans a length of 300 feet, offering a surface area of 16 acres for visitors to enjoy. Despite its low hazard potential, Prentice is considered to be in fair condition, last assessed in November 2017.
Managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Prentice undergoes regular inspections and enforcement measures to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations. With a normal storage capacity of 50 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 3300 cubic feet per second, this dam plays a vital role in providing recreational opportunities and water resource management within the region. Although the risk assessment deems Prentice's hazard potential to be very high, it maintains its status as a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking outdoor adventures in Wisconsin's picturesque landscape.
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 Prentice -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spirit River At Spirit Falls | 226 cfs | → |
| Jump River At Sheldon | 1,270 cfs | → |
| Bear River Near Manitowish Waters | 99 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Merrill | 190 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Merrill | 3,620 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River @ Rainbow Lake Nr Lake Tomahawk | 967 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Prentice.
Boat launches
- Worchester Lake -- Landing
- Cranberry Lake -- Access
- The Loop Town Of Harmony
- Elk Lake/Duroy Lake -- Lionite Park Access
- Wilson Lake -- Landing
- Wilson Flowage -- Access
Campgrounds
- Pioneer Park & Campground
- Pioneer Park And Campground
- Solberg Lake County Park Campground
- Lakeview Park Campground
- Eastwood Recreation Area Campground
- Eastwood Campground
Paddle runs
- Forest Road 148 To Forest Road 149
- Forest Road 144 To Forest Road 148
- Forest Road 149 To West Forest Boundary
- Headwaters To Footbridge
- Footbridge To Forest Road 144
- East Forest Boundary To Forest Road 162 Crossing
More reservoirs
Track Prentice 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 Prentice
Where does the data for Prentice 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 Prentice.