Behm dam
Behm
Behm, a privately owned dam located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, serves multiple purposes including fire protection and providing a source for stock or small fish pond. Built in 1973 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet with a length of 420 feet, offering a maximum storage capacity of 73 acre-feet. The dam, situated on the Non Nav-Diamond Valley river or stream, also has a significant hazard potential, although its condition was rated as fair during the last assessment in 2018.
Despite being regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR) and meeting state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements, Behm still poses a moderate risk and has a history of being modified in 2006. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, with a maximum discharge capacity of 40 cubic feet per second. With a drainage area of 1 square mile and a surface area of 7 acres, Behm remains a crucial structure for water resource management and climate resilience in the region. Ron Kind (D) represents the area in Congress, ensuring oversight and support for the dam's operations and maintenance.
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 Behm -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black River At Neillsville | 196 cfs | → |
| Black River Ds St Hwy 54 @ Black River Falls | 652 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River At Chippewa Falls | 3,370 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Arcadia | 555 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Galesville | 1,290 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Dodge | 593 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Behm.
Boat launches
- Coon Fork Lake -- Access
- Lake Eau Claire -- Access Nr County Rd South Dakota
- Lake Eau Claire --- Access Near Sd Ln
- Lake Eau Claire -- Access - Nd Cir
- Fall Creek Pond -- Access
- Rock Dam Lake -- Access
Campgrounds
- Coon Fork Lake
- Harstad Park
- Crystal Lake Park - Strum
- Rock Dam Park
- Wild Rock County Park
- Wildcat Mound County Park
Fishing spots
Track Behm 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 Behm
Where does the data for Behm 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 Significant 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.