Langlade County Flowage dam
Langlade County Flowage
Langlade County Flowage, also known as Section 27 Dike, is a state-owned structure located in Langlade County, Wisconsin. Built in 1974, this earth dam stands at a height of 9 feet and serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction. With a normal storage capacity of 70 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 90 acre-feet, this flowage area covers 6 acres and has a drainage area of 1 square mile, offering essential protection against potential flooding events in the region.
Managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR), Langlade County Flowage is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state agency to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. The dam's hazard potential is classified as low, with a fair condition assessment as of May 2020. Despite this, the risk assessment for the area is deemed very high, emphasizing the critical importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential risks and ensure the safety of nearby communities.
In addition to flood risk reduction, Langlade County Flowage also provides recreational opportunities for visitors and residents. With a controlled spillway and a maximum discharge capacity of 45 cubic feet per second, this structure plays a vital role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the proper maintenance and operation of Langlade County Flowage are essential for safeguarding the local ecosystem and community from the increasing threat of flooding events.
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 Langlade County Flowage -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie River Near Merrill | 190 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Merrill | 3,620 cfs | → |
| Eau Claire River At Kelly | 253 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Rothschild | 4,880 cfs | → |
| Rib River At Rib Falls | 713 cfs | → |
| Red River At Morgan Road Near Morgan | 236 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Langlade County Flowage.
Boat launches
- Pleasant Lake -- Access
- Prairie River -- Launch Site
- Echo Lake -- Access At Sw Side Of Lake Off Echo Lake Rd
- Moose Lake Boat Landing
- Mud Lake -- Access At S End Of Lake
- Prairie River -- Walk-In
Campgrounds
- Dells Of The Eau Claire Park - Wausau
- Antigo Lake Rv Park
- High Lake County Park
- Underdown County Park Campground
- Langlade County Veterans Memorial Park
- Game Lake Primitive
Paddle runs
- Unnamed Creek To Forest Boundary In Sec 14, T37n, R13e
- North Branch (Sections 19/30 Line) To Unnamed Creek In Sec 4, T37n, R13e
- Railroad Bridge To 1/4 Mile Downstream From The Ccc Bridge
- 1/4 Mile Downstream From Ccc Bridge To 1/4 Mile Upstream From Evans Bridge
- Main Branch-Forest Boundary In Sec 18, T37n, R15e To Railroad Bridge
- 1/4 Mile Upstream From Evans Bridge To Confluence With Armstrong Creek
Track Langlade County Flowage 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 Langlade County Flowage
Where does the data for Langlade County Flowage 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 Langlade County Flowage.