Sensnovis dam
Sensnovis
Sensnovis, located in Sauk, Wisconsin, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1973 with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Managed by the USDA NRCS, this dam stands at 27 feet high with a hydraulic height of 19 feet, offering a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 4 acres. It is situated on the Unnamed Tributary of Little Baraboo River.
Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Sensnovis poses a very high risk due to its location and potential impact on the surrounding area. The dam has a controlled spillway type with a maximum discharge of 160 cubic feet per second. While it is state regulated and inspected by WIDNR, the last inspection took place in 2010, with a recommended frequency of every 10 years.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Sensnovis presents an opportunity to explore the intersection of private ownership, dam management, and environmental risk assessment. With its unique purpose and design, this dam serves as a focal point for understanding the delicate balance between water conservation, emergency preparedness, and regulatory enforcement in the context of changing climate patterns and evolving water resource management practices in 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 Sensnovis -- 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 | → |
| Lemonweir River At New Lisbon | 326 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River Near Wisconsin Dells | 9,040 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Muscoda | 10,400 cfs | → |
| Baraboo River Near Baraboo | 385 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sensnovis.
Boat launches
- Dutch Hollow Lake -- Access Nr Auble Landing Rd
- Dutch Hollow Lake -- Access Off Dutch Hollow Road
- Hemlock Slough -- Access
- Park Road 110, Cazenovia
- Field Veterans Memorial Lake Boat Ramp
- Baraboo River -- Access Near Lake Redstone
Campgrounds
- Baker's Field
- Legion Park Camp Sites
- Wonewoc Legion Park
- Schultz City Park
- Pier Natural Bridge County Park
- Elroy Campground
Paddle runs
- Lone Rock To The Confluence Of The Green And Wisconsin Rivers
- Honey Creek (County Road Y On The Southern Bank) To The State Route 130 Highway Bridge Crossing At Lone Rock
- The Big Green River To The River's Mouth At The Mississippi River
More reservoirs
Track Sensnovis 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 Sensnovis
Where does the data for Sensnovis 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 Sensnovis.