Burlington dam
Burlington
Burlington, also known as Echo Lake, is a gravity dam located in Racine, Wisconsin, that serves as a recreational area for water resource and climate enthusiasts. Constructed in 1934, this dam has a height of 10 feet and a storage capacity of 450 acre-feet, with a normal storage capacity of 130 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the White River, within the Chicago District, and is regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
With a significant hazard potential and a fair condition assessment as of November 2017, Burlington's dam is in need of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its safety. The spillway of the dam is controlled with a width of 262 feet, and it has a maximum discharge capacity of 5,516 cubic feet per second. Despite its age, Burlington continues to be a popular spot for recreation, offering a surface area of 100 acres and a drainage area of 284 square miles for visitors to enjoy.
As a key recreational site in the area, Burlington provides both leisure and educational opportunities for those interested in water resource management and climate conservation. Its rich history and impressive infrastructure make it a unique destination for enthusiasts looking to explore the intersection of water resources and climate science in a picturesque setting along the White River.
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 Burlington -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fox River Near New Munster | 500 cfs | → |
| White River At Center Street At Lake Geneva | 0 cfs | → |
| Mukwonago River At Mukwonago | 44 cfs | → |
| Jackson Creek At Mound Road Near Elkhorn | 5 cfs | → |
| Nippersink Creek Near Spring Grove | 114 cfs | → |
| Root River Canal Near Franklin | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Burlington.
Boat launches
- Echo Lake -- Access Off Sth 36 Burlington
- Fox River -- Access Nr End Of Congress St Burlington
- Rockland Lake -- Access At E Side Of Lake
- Browns Lake -- Access Nr Durand Ave
- Bohners Lake -- Access At N Side Of Lake Nr Lagoon Dr
- Buena Lake/Tichigan Lk -- Access
Campgrounds
- Rv Camping @ Big Foot Beach State Park
- Lake Geneva Youth Camp
- Tent Camping @ Big Foot Beach State Park
- Phantom Ranch Bible Camp
- North Branch Conservation Area (Cyclists Only)
- Mukwonago County Park Campground
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Burlington 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 Burlington
Where does the data for Burlington 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 Significant 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 Burlington.