West Fork Kickapoo 17 Dam
West Fork Kickapoo 17
West Fork Kickapoo 17, also known as Primmer, is a local government-owned earth dam located in Vernon, Wisconsin. Completed in 1969 by the USDA NRCS, this dam stands at 51 feet in height and spans 670 feet in length, serving primarily for flood risk reduction along Maple Dale Creek. With a storage capacity of 1330 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 900 cubic feet per second, West Fork Kickapoo 17 plays a crucial role in mitigating flood hazards in the area.
Managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, West Fork Kickapoo 17 is subject to regular inspections, with its condition assessed as satisfactory during the last evaluation in July 2013. Classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam presents a moderate risk level of 3, prompting the need for ongoing risk management measures. Despite its importance in flood risk reduction, the dam also offers recreational opportunities for the local community, highlighting its multifaceted role in water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
Overall, West Fork Kickapoo 17 exemplifies the intersection of infrastructure, environmental protection, and community safety in water resource management. As a key piece of the flood control system along Maple Dale Creek, this earth dam stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts between federal, state, and local agencies in safeguarding communities against natural disasters. With its strategic location and effective design, West Fork Kickapoo 17 serves as a vital asset in enhancing the resilience of the surrounding area to climate-related challenges.
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 West Fork Kickapoo 17 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kickapoo River At La Farge | 192 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo River At State Highway 33 At Ontario | 149 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo River At Steuben | 578 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River At Sparta | 167 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River Near La Crosse | 435 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Muscoda | 4,730 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Fork Kickapoo 17.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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More reservoirs
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About West Fork Kickapoo 17
Where does the data for West Fork Kickapoo 17 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 below 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.
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.