Von Ruden dam
Von Ruden
Von Ruden is a private dam located in Vernon, Wisconsin, along the Tr West Fork Kickapoo River. Built in 1973 by the USDA NRCS, this Earth-type dam stands at 30 feet tall and spans 350 feet in length. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet and a hazard potential rated as low. Despite its age, the condition assessment of Von Ruden is not available, but it is inspected every 10 years to ensure its structural integrity.
Operated and funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Von Ruden serves as a crucial infrastructure for managing water resources in the area. While it has a controlled spillway type and uncontrolled outlet gates, the dam has not been modified over the years and lacks detailed risk management measures or emergency action plans. However, the risk assessment for Von Ruden is rated as moderate, indicating the need for continued monitoring and potential improvements to enhance its effectiveness in flood control and water management.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to recognize the role that structures like Von Ruden play in mitigating flood risks and protecting communities downstream. By understanding the design, purpose, and condition of dams like Von Ruden, we can advocate for improved infrastructure, risk management practices, and emergency preparedness to ensure the safety and resilience of our water resources in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Von Ruden -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kickapoo River At State Highway 33 At Ontario | 149 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo River At La Farge | 250 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River At Sparta | 209 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River Near La Crosse | 408 cfs | → |
| Lemonweir River At New Lisbon | 326 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Galesville | 1,640 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Von Ruden.
Boat launches
- State Highway 131 La Farge
- West Main Street La Farge
- Sidie Hollow Lake -- Access
- State Highway 162 Bangor
- Town Of Angelo
- Neshonoc Lake -- Access
Campgrounds
- Campsite T
- Campsite S
- Wildcat Mountain State Park
- Wildcat Mountain State Park Campground
- Leon Valley Campground
- Esofea - Rentz Memorial Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Big Green River To The River's Mouth At The Mississippi River
- Western Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument To Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument
- Lone Rock To The Confluence Of The Green And Wisconsin Rivers
- The "Lower" Dam, Near The Confluence Of Coon Creek To Lane's Bridge
More reservoirs
Track Von Ruden 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 Von Ruden
Where does the data for Von Ruden 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 Von Ruden.