Rice dam
Rice
Rice is a gravity dam located on the Tomahawk River in Lincoln, Wisconsin, completed in 1912 for hydroelectric purposes. Owned by a public utility, the dam stands at 19 feet high and has a length of 1497 feet, with a storage capacity of 44123 acre-feet. It serves multiple purposes, including flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, and recreational activities for the surrounding area.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Rice has a controlled spillway with a width of 60 feet and is associated with one other structure. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, its risk assessment is rated very high. The dam has not undergone a recent condition assessment, and its emergency action plan status is not available. Its location in a scenic area on the Tomahawk River makes it a valuable asset that requires careful monitoring and management to ensure the safety of downstream communities and the efficient operation of the dam for water resource and climate enthusiasts 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 Rice -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spirit River At Spirit Falls | 226 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Merrill | 190 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River @ Rainbow Lake Nr Lake Tomahawk | 967 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Merrill | 3,620 cfs | → |
| Muskellunge Creek Near St. Germain | 9 cfs | → |
| Muskellunge Ck-Muskellunge L Otl-Nr Eagle River | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rice .
Boat launches
- Nokomis Drive Bradley
- Halfmoon Lake -- Ramp
- Jersey City Flowage -- Access
- Point O Pines Road 9947, Town Of Nokomis
- County Highway N 9558, Town Of Nokomis
- Town Of Bradley
Campgrounds
- Sara Park
- Otter Lake
- Otter Lake County Park Campground
- Underdown County Park Campground
- Camp New Wood County Park
- Camp New Wood County Park Campground
Track Rice 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 Rice
Where does the data for Rice 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 Rice .