Whiting Plover dam
Whiting Plover
Whiting Plover, also known as Lower Paper Mill, is a privately owned dam located in Portage, Wisconsin. Built in 1850, this gravity dam stands at a height of 13 feet and spans 896 feet, with a storage capacity of 600 acre-feet and a drainage area of 5134 acres. While its primary purpose is recreation, the dam also serves as a water resource for the surrounding area.
Despite its age, Whiting Plover has been well maintained, with inspections conducted every 10 years and a fair condition assessment as of May 2020. The dam has a low hazard potential but is considered to have a very high risk due to its location and potential impact in case of failure. The regulatory oversight by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources ensures that the dam meets safety standards and poses minimal risk to the environment and communities downstream.
Whiting Plover's historical significance, combined with its recreational and water resource value, makes it an important structure in the area. As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, maintaining and updating dams like Whiting Plover will be crucial in ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water systems.
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 Whiting Plover -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tomorrow River Near Nelsonville | 37 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Wisconsin Rapids | 3,800 cfs | → |
| Tenmile Creek Near Nekoosa | 121 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Rothschild | 3,590 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Babcock | 51 cfs | → |
| Eau Claire River At Kelly | 159 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Whiting Plover.
Boat launches
- Wisconsin River -- Blue Heron Landing
- Plover River -- Access
- Wisconsin River -- Access At Park Dr Plover
- Mcdill Pond -- Access At The End Of Heffron St
- Wisconsin River -- Access At Stevens Point - Franklin And Forest
- Jordan Pond -- Access
Track Whiting Plover 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 Whiting Plover
Where does the data for Whiting Plover 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 Low 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 Whiting Plover.