Rothschild dam
Rothschild
Situated in Marathon, Wisconsin, the Rothschild Dam, completed in 1911, stands as a historic landmark on the Wisconsin River. Owned privately, the dam serves multiple purposes including hydroelectric power generation, recreation, wildlife conservation, and water supply for the surrounding area. With a height of 27 feet and a length of 883 feet, the dam boasts a normal storage capacity of 13,900 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 84,000 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Rothschild Dam has a high hazard potential due to its location and design. It features a controlled spillway with a width of 631 feet and ten radial outlet gates for water control. Despite its age, the dam's condition assessment is not available, highlighting the importance of regular inspection and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and safety for nearby communities and ecosystems. The dam's risk assessment categorizes it as very high, underscoring the critical need for effective risk management measures to mitigate potential hazards.
In the event of an emergency, the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan prepared, indicating a potential gap in readiness for unforeseen events. With its rich history, significant impact on the environment and community, and key role in water resource management, the Rothschild Dam remains a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking to understand the intersection of infrastructure, sustainability, and risk management in the face of a changing climate.
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 Rothschild -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin River At Rothschild | 2,210 cfs | → |
| Eau Claire River At Kelly | 170 cfs | → |
| Rib River At Rib Falls | 93 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Merrill | 2,030 cfs | → |
| Big Eau Pleine River At Stratford | 25 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Merrill | 129 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rothschild .
Boat launches
- Wisconsin River, Below Tailrace Of Rothschild Dam
- Eau Claire Flowage -- Access
- Lake Wausau -- Access Nr Oriole Ln
- Lake Wausau -- Access At 3rd Ave
- Memorial Park Boat Ramp
- Big Rib River/Lake Wausau -- Access At Mallard Lane
Campgrounds
- Rib Mountain State Park
- Marathon Park
- South Unit Campground
- West Unit Campground
- Dells Of The Eau Claire Park - Wausau
- Council Grounds State Park
More reservoirs
Track Rothschild 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 Rothschild
Where does the data for Rothschild 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 Rothschild .