Afton dam
Afton
Afton, located in Rock, Wisconsin, is a privately owned dam on Bass Creek completed in 1952 for recreational purposes. The gravity dam stands at a height of 9 feet with a hydraulic height of 6 feet, providing a normal storage capacity of 80 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 3850 cubic feet per second. With a hazard potential rated as significant and a risk assessment indicating a very high risk level, the dam is regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, with regular inspections and enforcement ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite its age, Afton Dam continues to serve as a vital recreational resource in the area, offering a surface area of 30 acres and a drainage area of 65 square miles for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy. However, the dam's condition assessment remains unrated, highlighting the need for further evaluation and potential maintenance to mitigate any safety concerns. With a risk management plan yet to be implemented and emergency action preparedness status unclear, stakeholders are encouraged to stay informed about the dam's status and be prepared for any potential emergencies that may arise.
As a key component of the local water resource infrastructure, Afton Dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and providing recreational opportunities for the community. With its controlled spillway and significant hazard potential, ongoing monitoring and maintenance are essential to ensure the dam's continued functionality and safety for both residents and visitors alike. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to stay engaged with the management of Afton Dam and advocate for responsible stewardship of this important natural resource.
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 Afton -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rock River At Afton | 3,240 cfs | → |
| Rock River At Rockton | 5,610 cfs | → |
| Turtle Creek At Carvers Rock Road Near Clinton | 194 cfs | → |
| Pecatonica River Nr Shirland | 1,650 cfs | → |
| Yahara River Near Fulton | 285 cfs | → |
| Sugar River Near Brodhead | 400 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Afton.
Boat launches
- Rock River -- Access Nr Happy Hollow Rd Town Of Rock
- Rock River -- Access Nr Auburn Dr Town Of Beloit
- Rock River -- Access
- Lions Park Pond -- Boat Launch
- Rock River -- Access At Along S River St Janesville
- Rock River -- Access At 4th St And Maple Ave Beloit
Campgrounds
- Camp Indian Trails
- E.T. Seton
- W.D. Boyce
- Fox's Den
- Hononegah Forest Preserve Campground
- Rivers Edge Campground
Fishing spots
Track Afton 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 Afton
Where does the data for Afton 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 Afton.