West Fork Kickapoo 5 dam
West Fork Kickapoo 5
West Fork Kickapoo 5, also known as Seas Branch, is a local government-owned earth dam located in Vernon, Wisconsin. Built in 1968 by the USDA NRCS, this dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction and also offers recreational opportunities. Standing at a height of 48 feet with a hydraulic height of 21 feet, this dam has a storage capacity of 627 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 13 acres.
Managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, West Fork Kickapoo 5 is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced for safety and compliance. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition is assessed as satisfactory, with the last inspection conducted in May 2020. With a moderate risk assessment score of 3, the dam's risk management measures and emergency action plans are in place to ensure the safety of surrounding communities in case of any unforeseen events.
Located in a picturesque setting along the Seas Branch of West Fork Kickapoo, this dam not only provides flood protection but also enhances the natural environment for recreational purposes. With its strategic design and effective management, West Fork Kickapoo 5 stands as a vital infrastructure for water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
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 West Fork Kickapoo 5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kickapoo River At La Farge | 250 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo River At State Highway 33 At Ontario | 149 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River At Sparta | 209 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River Near La Crosse | 408 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo River At Steuben | 631 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Muscoda | 10,400 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Fork Kickapoo 5.
Boat launches
- Sidie Hollow Lake -- Access
- West Main Street La Farge
- State Highway 131 La Farge
- Mississippi River -- Stoddard Park Landing
- Mississippi River -- Genoa Harbor
- Bad Axe River/Mississippi River -- Landing
Campgrounds
- Esofea - Rentz Memorial Park
- Esofea/Rentz Memorial Park Campground
- Boat Landing - Sidie Hollow Park
- Sidie Hollow County Park Boat Landing Campground
- Sidie Hollow County Park Main Campground
- Main - Sidie Hollow Park
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
- Lone Rock To The Confluence Of The Green And Wisconsin Rivers
- The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek To Lane's Bridge
Track West Fork Kickapoo 5 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 West Fork Kickapoo 5
Where does the data for West Fork Kickapoo 5 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 West Fork Kickapoo 5.