Metz No.1 dam
Metz No.1
Metz No.1 is a privately-owned earth dam located in Lafayette, Wisconsin, along the TR Wolf Creek. Built in 1974 by the USDA NRCS, this dam serves a primary purpose of recreation and stands at a height of 26 feet with a length of 725 feet. With a storage capacity of 79 acre-feet, the dam plays a vital role in managing water resources in the area, with a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment as of the last inspection in May 2020.
Managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Metz No.1 is subject to state regulations, inspections, and enforcement to ensure its safe operation and maintenance. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and a moderate risk assessment rating, indicating the importance of ongoing risk management measures. Despite its age, Metz No.1 continues to provide valuable recreational opportunities while contributing to the overall water resource management of the region, with a drainage area of 0.4 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 110 cubic feet per second.
With its location in a picturesque setting near Gratiot and under the jurisdiction of the WIDNR, Metz No.1 serves as a notable example of sustainable water infrastructure that balances recreational enjoyment with environmental conservation. As climate change impacts water resources and infrastructure resilience, dams like Metz No.1 play a crucial role in adapting to changing conditions and ensuring the long-term availability of water for both human use and ecosystem health in Lafayette, 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 Metz No.1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pecatonica River At Darlington | 259 cfs | → |
| Pecatonica River At Martintown | 831 cfs | → |
| East Br Pecatonica River Near Blanchardville | 194 cfs | → |
| Sinsinawa River Near Menominee | 22 cfs | → |
| Apple River Near Hanover | 121 cfs | → |
| Platte River Near Rockville | 216 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Metz No.1.
Boat launches
- Pecatonica River -- Riverside Rd Access
- Pecatonica River -- Highway 78 Landing
- Pecatonica River -- Gratiot Conservation Club Boat Launch
- Pecatonica River -- Darlington -- Piggly Wiggly Boat Launch
- Pecatonica River -- Darlington - Collins Park Boat Access (Carry In)
- Pecatonica River -- Darlington - Black Bridge Park Boat Access
Campgrounds
- Wolf Creek Cg
- Pecatonica River Trails Park Campground
- Canyon Ridge Camping Area
- Walnut Grove Campground
- Camp Office
- Blackhawk Memoreial Park Campground
Track Metz No.1 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 Metz No.1
Where does the data for Metz No.1 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 Metz No.1.