Blair Mill dam
Blair Mill
Blair Mill, located in Trempealeau, Wisconsin, is a historic dam completed in 1869 on the Trempealeau River. Owned by the local government, this buttress dam serves purposes such as recreation and water management. With a height of 13 feet and a length of 150 feet, Blair Mill has a storage capacity of 170 acre-feet and a normal storage of 120 acre-feet. The dam has a controlled spillway with a width of 73 feet and a low hazard potential, rated in fair condition as of May 2020.
Despite being over 150 years old, Blair Mill has undergone modifications in 1919 and 1998 to ensure its structural integrity. Inspected every 10 years, the dam meets regulatory requirements set by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The risk assessment for Blair Mill is rated as very high (1), emphasizing the importance of ongoing risk management measures. With its picturesque location and historical significance, Blair Mill continues to play a vital role in water resource management and recreation in the region, under the oversight of the local government and state regulatory agency.
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 Blair Mill -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Trempealeau River At Arcadia | 555 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Galesville | 1,290 cfs | → |
| Black River Ds St Hwy 54 @ Black River Falls | 652 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Dodge | 593 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Winona | 38,900 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River Near La Crosse | 425 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blair Mill.
Boat launches
- Lake Henry -- Public Boat Landing
- Black River -- North Bend Access
- Marinuka Lake -- Access
- Mark Holmgren Memorial Landing -- Access
- Black River -- Access Nr State Hwy 35
- Great River Road Town Of Trempealeau
Campgrounds
- Riverside Memorial Park
- Col Larson County Park
- Lions Club - Four Seasons Park - Independence
- Pietrek County Park
- Pietrek Park Campgrounds
- Hixton Village Campground
Fishing spots
Track Blair 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 Blair Mill
Where does the data for Blair 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 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 Blair Mill.