Virginia Lake dam
Virginia Lake
Virginia Lake in Sauk, Wisconsin is a captivating destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts. This local government-owned reservoir, completed in 1971, serves primarily for recreational purposes with a normal storage capacity of 200 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 450 acre-feet. The lake covers a surface area of 35 acres and has a drainage area of 2 square miles, making it a picturesque spot for outdoor activities.
The earth dam that forms Virginia Lake stands at a height of 21 feet, with a spillway width of 53 feet. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam is regularly inspected by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to ensure its fair condition and safety for visitors. With a controlled spillway type and a maximum discharge capacity of 2300 cubic feet per second, Virginia Lake remains a tranquil oasis nestled within the natural beauty of the U/N tributary to Copper Creek.
For those interested in exploring Virginia Lake, its location in the St. Paul District offers a serene retreat to enjoy water-based activities and appreciate the surrounding wildlife. With its very high risk assessment ranking of 1, the management of the reservoir focuses on maintaining its structural integrity and safety standards, making it an ideal destination for both relaxation and environmental appreciation in the heart of 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 Virginia Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin River Near Wisconsin Dells | 9,040 cfs | → |
| Baraboo River Near Baraboo | 385 cfs | → |
| Lemonweir River At New Lisbon | 326 cfs | → |
| Black Earth Creek At Black Earth | 51 cfs | → |
| Brewery Creek-Upstream Site-At Cross Plains | 2 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Muscoda | 10,400 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Virginia Lake.
Boat launches
- Mirror Lake -- Access Off Lakeview Rd
- Baraboo River -- North Freedom - Access
- Mirror Lake -- State Park - E Side Of Lake
- Baraboo River -- Heath Hatchery Road Access
- Lake Blass -- Access
- Lake Delton -- Canyon Drive
Campgrounds
- Mirror Lake State Park
- Sandstone Ridge Campground
- Cliffwood Campground
- Bluewater Bay Campground
- Dell Boo Campground
- American Resport And Campground
Paddle runs
- Honey Creek (County Road Y On The Southern Bank) To The State Route 130 Highway Bridge Crossing At Lone Rock
- Lone Rock To The Confluence Of The Green And Wisconsin Rivers
- The Big Green River To The River's Mouth At The Mississippi River
More reservoirs
Track Virginia Lake 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 Virginia Lake
Where does the data for Virginia Lake 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 Virginia Lake.