Bad Axe 16 dam
Bad Axe 16
Bad Axe 16, also known as Thompson, is a vital flood risk reduction structure located in Vernon, Wisconsin along the Hornby Hollow Creek. Built in 1965 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at 44 feet tall and stretches 510 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 577 acre-feet, it plays a crucial role in managing water levels and mitigating potential flooding in the area. The dam is under the regulatory authority of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, ensuring that it meets all necessary safety and inspection requirements.
Despite its age, Bad Axe 16 remains in satisfactory condition with a low hazard potential. Its last inspection in May 2016 deemed it structurally sound, with a moderate risk assessment rating of 3. The dam has a spillway type of "Uncontrolled" and a maximum discharge capacity of 402 cubic feet per second. In the event of an emergency, the structure is equipped to handle potential risks, although specific emergency action plans may need updating. With its strategic location and design, Bad Axe 16 continues to serve its primary purpose of flood risk reduction effectively, safeguarding the surrounding community from potential water-related hazards.
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 Bad Axe 16 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kickapoo River At La Farge | 227 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo River At Steuben | 623 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo River At State Highway 33 At Ontario | 149 cfs | → |
| Upper Iowa River Near Dorchester | 613 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River Near La Crosse | 425 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Ion | 198 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bad Axe 16.
Boat launches
- Sidie Hollow Lake -- Access
- Mississippi River -- Ferryville Landing
- Mississippi River -- Winneshiek Slough Landing
- Bad Axe River/Mississippi River -- Landing
- Mississippi River -- Blackhawk Upper Access (Near Desoto)
- Army Road Boat Landing
Campgrounds
- Sidie Hollow County Park Boat Landing Campground
- Boat Landing - Sidie Hollow Park
- Ridge - Sidie Hollow Park
- Sidie Hollow County Park Ridge Campground
- Main - Sidie Hollow Park
- Sidie Hollow County Park Main Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Big Green River To The River's Mouth At The Mississippi River
- Western Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument To Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument
- The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek To Lane's Bridge
- Lone Rock To The Confluence Of The Green And Wisconsin Rivers
- The Town Of Bluffton To The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek
More reservoirs
Track Bad Axe 16 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 Bad Axe 16
Where does the data for Bad Axe 16 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 Bad Axe 16.