Linen Mill dam
Linen Mill
Linen Mill, also known as McArthur, is a historic hydroelectric dam located in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Built in 1928, this gravity dam stands at a height of 11 feet and has a length of 155 feet. The dam serves multiple purposes, including hydroelectric power generation and recreation, with a normal storage capacity of 45 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 95 acre-feet.
The dam is situated on the Baraboo River, with a drainage area of 583 square miles. With a maximum discharge of 1700 cubic feet per second, the dam has been classified as having a significant hazard potential. Although the condition of the dam is currently not rated, it undergoes regular inspections with a frequency of every 3 years to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Overall, Linen Mill plays a crucial role in the local water resource management and energy generation in the region. Its historical significance, combined with its operational importance, makes it a key infrastructure for water resource and climate enthusiasts to study and monitor in the context of sustainable development and climate resilience efforts.
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 Linen Mill -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Baraboo River Near Baraboo | 385 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River Near Wisconsin Dells | 9,040 cfs | → |
| Black Earth Creek At Black Earth | 51 cfs | → |
| Brewery Creek-Upstream Site-At Cross Plains | 2 cfs | → |
| Yahara River At Windsor | 26 cfs | → |
| Pheasant Branch At Airport Road Nr Middleton | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Linen Mill.
Boat launches
- Baraboo River -- Glenville Landing
- Baraboo River -- Luebke Public Access
- Devils Lake -- State Park
- Baraboo River -- Heath Hatchery Road Access
- Lake Wisconsin -- Access - Moon Valley Landing
- Lake Wisconsin -- Access - Palisade Street-Village Of Merrimac
Campgrounds
- Devil’S Lake State Park Campgrounds
- Dell Boo Campground
- Mirror Lake State Park
- Bluewater Bay Campground
- Sandstone Ridge Campground
- Cliffwood Campground
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 Linen Mill 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 Linen Mill
Where does the data for Linen Mill 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 Linen Mill.