Little Yellow 25 dam
Little Yellow 25
Little Yellow 25 is a state-regulated dam located in Juneau, Wisconsin, specifically in the city of Meadow Valley. Completed in 1935, this gravity dam primarily serves the purpose of irrigation, with additional benefits for recreation and water supply. With a height of 9 feet and a hydraulic height of 7 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 130 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 70 acre-feet.
The dam, situated on the West Branch Little Yellow River, has a low hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating of 1. While its condition is currently not rated, the dam has undergone inspections every 10 years, with the last one conducted in July 2008. Managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR), Little Yellow 25 is equipped with a controlled spillway and has a maximum discharge capacity of 1,259 cubic feet per second.
Overall, Little Yellow 25 plays a crucial role in the local water resource management, providing essential irrigation water while also offering recreational opportunities and ensuring a stable water supply. As a key infrastructure in the area, its maintenance and regulatory oversight by the state agencies are essential to ensure its continued safe operation and compliance with environmental standards.
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 Little Yellow 25 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow River At Babcock | 51 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Necedah | 240 cfs | → |
| Tenmile Creek Near Nekoosa | 126 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Wisconsin Rapids | 3,370 cfs | → |
| Lemonweir River At New Lisbon | 309 cfs | → |
| Black River At Neillsville | 311 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Yellow 25.
Boat launches
- Lake Dexter -- Access On Sw Side Of Lake
- Petenwell Lake - 20th Drive Access - Wisconsin River Power Company (Wrpco)
- Lake Dexter -- Access Off State Hwy 80
- Petenwell Lake - Wilderness Park Access
- Petenwell Lake -- 20th Drive Access
- Wisconsin River / Petenwell Flowage -- Access Off Blackhawk Dr.
Track Little Yellow 25 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 Little Yellow 25
Where does the data for Little Yellow 25 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 Little Yellow 25.