Little Chute Locks And Dam dam
Little Chute Locks And Dam
Little Chute Locks and Dam, located on the Fox River in Outagamie, Wisconsin, serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, navigation, and recreation. Completed in 1932 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, this concrete dam with a hydraulic height of 12 feet and a structural height of 20 feet has a length of 840 feet and a storage capacity of 650 acre-feet. The dam features two locks, each 144 feet long and 36 feet wide, and a controlled spillway with a width of 500 feet to manage water levels and prevent flooding.
With a significant hazard potential, the dam is subject to regular inspections and risk assessments to ensure its structural integrity and readiness for emergency situations. The US Army Corps of Engineers actively manages dam-related flood risks by monitoring the dam's condition, prioritizing risk-reduction activities, and collaborating with emergency managers and the public on emergency preparedness. The agency also updates the emergency action plan for the dam and conducts maintenance and repairs as needed to prevent issues and ensure the dam's proper functioning. As climate change increases the likelihood of severe weather events and flooding, the importance of effective risk management measures for structures like Little Chute Locks and Dam becomes even more critical for safeguarding water resources and 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 Little Chute Locks And Dam -- 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 Oshkosh | 12,600 cfs | → |
| Wolf River At New London | 3,110 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Oil Tank Depot At Green Bay | 11,300 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Chute Locks And Dam.
Boat launches
- Fox River -- Village Of Kimberly - Sunset Park Ramp
- Fox River -- Kaukauna - Riverside Park Ramp
- Fox River -- Appleton - Lutz Park Ramps
- Firelane 8 Village Of Harrison
- Lake Winnebago -- State Park Road - Street Access
- Lake Butte Des Morts -- Ninth Street Boat Launch
Track Little Chute Locks And Dam 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 Little Chute Locks And Dam
Where does the data for Little Chute Locks And Dam 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 Significant 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 Little Chute Locks And Dam.