Dahl-Merkley dam
Dahl-Merkley
Dahl-Merkley, located in Burnett, Wisconsin, is a privately owned dam designed by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Completed in 1974, this earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet with a hydraulic height of 10 feet and a length of 430 feet. It has a storage capacity of 140 acre-feet and serves as a low hazard potential structure with a fair condition assessment as of May 2020.
The dam regulates the TR CLAM river or stream and is under the jurisdiction of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. It has state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place, ensuring its compliance with regulatory standards. Despite its moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam is considered to be in a stable condition, providing essential services for fire protection and supporting local aquatic life.
With a surface area of 20 acres and a drainage area of 0.4 square miles, Dahl-Merkley plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area. Its uncontrolled spillway type and location in S25, T38N, R16W make it a valuable asset for maintaining water levels and supporting the surrounding ecosystem. Climate and water enthusiasts can appreciate the dam's contribution to the local environment and its importance for ecological sustainability in Burnett, Wisconsin.
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 Dahl-Merkley -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| St. Croix River Near Danbury | 1,320 cfs | → |
| St. Croix River At St. Croix Falls | 3,830 cfs | → |
| Snake River Near Pine City | 447 cfs | → |
| Kettle River Below Sandstone | 476 cfs | → |
| Hay River At Wheeler | 348 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Bruce | 1,200 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dahl-Merkley.
Boat launches
- Little Deer Road 22400, Town Of Siren
- Clam Lake -- Access
- Clam Lake -- Ramp
- Long Lake -- Boat Ramp
- Clam Falls Flowage -- Access
- State Highway 35 23630, Siren
Campgrounds
- Straight Lake Campground
- Big Butternut Lake
- Kirby Lake Primitive
- Shell Lake Municipal Park
- Shell Lake Municipal Campground
- James N Mcnally City Campground
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Dahl-Merkley 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 Dahl-Merkley
Where does the data for Dahl-Merkley 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 Dahl-Merkley.