Fishtrap dam
Fishtrap
Fishtrap, located in Vilas County, Wisconsin, is a rockfill dam built in 1884 on the Manitowish River. With a height of 13.8 feet and a storage capacity of 14,468 acre-feet, Fishtrap primarily serves as a recreational area, offering activities like fishing and boating. The dam has a spillway width of 47 feet and a maximum discharge of 1,412 cubic feet per second, making it a significant structure in managing water resources in the area.
Despite its age, Fishtrap has undergone modifications in 1935 and 2019 to ensure its continued functionality. The dam is under the jurisdiction of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR) and is subject to regular inspections, with a hazard potential rating of "High" and a condition assessment of "Fair". The risk assessment for Fishtrap is moderate, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and management to mitigate potential hazards and ensure the safety and integrity of the dam for both recreational and water resource purposes. With its historical significance and role in water management, Fishtrap is a key feature in the landscape of Boulder Junction and a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the area.
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 Fishtrap -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Creek @ Trout Lake Nr Boulder Junction | 3 cfs | → |
| Stevenson Creek At Cth M Nr Boulder Junction | 2 cfs | → |
| Allequash Creek Site 3 Near Boulder Junction | 4 cfs | → |
| Allequash Creek At Cth M Nr Boulder Junction | 11 cfs | → |
| Trout River At Trout Lake Near Boulder Junction | 30 cfs | → |
| Cisco Branch Ontonagon R At Cisco Lake Outlet | 60 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fishtrap.
⚓ Boat launches
- Manitowish River -- Fishtrap Dam Landing
- Nixon Creek -- Access
- Boulder Lake -- Boat Ramp
- White Sand Lake -- Access At Near Cth K
- Big Gibson Lake -- Ramp
- Wildcat Lake -- Access
⛺ Campgrounds
- Razorback Lake Campground
- Moosehead Lake Campground
- West Star Lake Campground
- East Star Lake Campground
- Big Lake Campground
- Pomeroy Lake
Track Fishtrap 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 Fishtrap
Where does the data for Fishtrap 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 High 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 Fishtrap.