Lower Kaukauna dam
Lower Kaukauna
Lower Kaukauna, located in Outagamie, Wisconsin, is a hydroelectric dam on the Fox River with a rich history dating back to its completion in 1857. With a primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation, the dam also serves navigation and recreation purposes. The dam stands at 16 feet high with a hydraulic height of 9 feet and a length of 3050 feet, creating a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 51,400 cubic feet per second.
Despite its age, Lower Kaukauna poses a high hazard potential due to its condition assessment being listed as "Not Rated." The risk assessment for the dam is classified as "Very High (1)," emphasizing the importance of proper maintenance and risk management measures. While it is not under the jurisdiction of the state for inspection, the dam is permitted by the state and regulated for enforcement, indicating the need for continued vigilance in ensuring its safety and functionality for both water resource management and climate adaptation efforts in the region.
Lower Kaukauna's location and design make it a significant landmark on the Fox River, providing both environmental benefits and challenges for the surrounding ecosystem. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to monitor and address the risks associated with aging infrastructure like Lower Kaukauna to ensure the continued sustainability of water resources and the protection of communities downstream.
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 Kaukauna -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fox River At Appleton | 8,860 cfs | → |
| East River At Ct Highway Zz Near Greenleaf | 8 cfs | → |
| Duck Creek Near Howard | 27 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Oil Tank Depot At Green Bay | 11,300 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Oshkosh | 12,600 cfs | → |
| Wolf River At New London | 3,110 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Kaukauna.
Boat launches
- Fox River -- Kaukauna - Riverside Park Ramp
- Fox River -- Village Of Kimberly - Sunset Park Ramp
- Fox River -- Wrightstown Launch
- Firelane 8 Village Of Harrison
- Lake Winnebago -- State Park Road - Street Access
- Fox River -- Appleton - Lutz Park Ramps
Track Lower Kaukauna 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 Kaukauna
Where does the data for Lower Kaukauna 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 Lower Kaukauna.