Deer Creek dam
Deer Creek
Deer Creek, located in Sawyer County, Wisconsin, is a gravity dam built in 1960 primarily for recreational purposes. The dam stands at 14 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 10 feet and a structural height of 14 feet, creating a reservoir with a maximum storage capacity of 4,000 acre-feet. With a normal storage level of 2,540 acre-feet and a surface area of 423 acres, Deer Creek provides a picturesque setting for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation.
Despite being classified as a low hazard potential structure with a fair condition assessment, Deer Creek poses a very high risk due to its location and associated factors. The dam has a controlled spillway type and a maximum discharge capacity of 850 cubic feet per second, ensuring controlled water release during heavy rainfall events. The dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, with the last inspection conducted in January 2012.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Deer Creek offers a unique opportunity to study the impact of dams on local ecosystems and water management practices. The risk assessment of the dam highlights the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure public safety and environmental preservation. As a vital recreational resource in the region, Deer Creek serves as a valuable case study for understanding the interconnectedness of water infrastructure, climate resilience, and sustainable recreational development in a changing environment.
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 Deer Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chippewa River Near Bruce | 1,200 cfs | → |
| Flambeau River Near Bruce | 2,210 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River At Bishops Bridge Near Winter | 600 cfs | → |
| Jump River At Sheldon | 1,070 cfs | → |
| Namekagon River At Leonards | 154 cfs | → |
| Red Cedar River Near Colfax | 850 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Deer Creek.
Boat launches
- Deer Lake Boat Access
- Audie Lake -- Boat Launch
- Lake Chetac Access -- E Side Of Lake Nr Fox Ln
- Murphy Flowage -- Ramp
- Lake Chetac Access -- N East Shore Rd - Steel Ramp
- Birch Lake -- Access Nr Doolittle Rd
Campgrounds
- Audie Lake County Park
- Murphy Flowage Park
- Doolittle Park
- Doolittle Park Campground
- Swan Creek Park
- Waldo Carlson Park
Paddle runs
- Forest Road 162 Crossing To Bridge On Blaisdell Lake
- East Forest Boundary To Forest Road 162 Crossing
- Forest Road 149 To West Forest Boundary
More reservoirs
Track Deer Creek 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 Deer Creek
Where does the data for Deer Creek 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 Deer Creek.