Lower North Wood County Park dam
Lower North Wood County Park
Lower North Wood County Park, located in Pittsville, Wisconsin, is a picturesque recreation area with a primary purpose of providing outdoor activities for visitors. The park features a gravity dam on the Yellow River, completed in 1939, with a height of 14 feet and a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam serves as a controlled spillway with a maximum discharge of 7070 cubic feet per second.
The park offers a tranquil setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore the dam's infrastructure and its impact on the surrounding environment. With a drainage area of 135 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 20 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and maintaining the park's eight-acre surface area. Despite its age, the dam continues to be inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and safety for the community.
Visitors to Lower North Wood County Park can enjoy hiking, fishing, and wildlife observation in a scenic natural setting. With Sean P. Duffy as the representative for the area, the park demonstrates a commitment to environmental conservation and recreation. Whether seeking a peaceful retreat or a hands-on learning experience, this park offers a unique opportunity to appreciate the intersection of water resources and climate in a local context.
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 Lower North Wood County Park -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow River At Babcock | 49 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Wisconsin Rapids | 4,570 cfs | → |
| Big Eau Pleine River At Stratford | 25 cfs | → |
| Tenmile Creek Near Nekoosa | 119 cfs | → |
| Black River At Neillsville | 196 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Necedah | 236 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower North Wood County Park.
Boat launches
- Lake Dexter -- Access On Sw Side Of Lake
- Lake Dexter -- Access Off State Hwy 80
- Wisconsin River -- Access At Wi Rapids Off Hwy 73
- Nepco Lake -- Access Off County Hwy Z
- Wisconsin River Landing - Sheila Ln Off Point Basse Ave
- Little Eau Pleine River - Highway S Launch (Mead Wildlife Area)
Track Lower North Wood County Park 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 Lower North Wood County Park
Where does the data for Lower North Wood County Park 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 Lower North Wood County Park.