New Wood dam
New Wood
New Wood, also known as New Wood Flowage, is a state-owned dam located in Lincoln, Wisconsin. Built in 1977, this rockfill dam stands at 6.5 feet high and has a hydraulic height of 3.2 feet. The dam's primary purpose is categorized as 'Other', with a normal storage capacity of 20 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 65 acre-feet.
This dam is regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR) and undergoes regular inspections and enforcement measures to ensure its structural integrity. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, it is noted to have a very high risk rating. The dam is situated on the TR-New Wood River and serves as a crucial piece of infrastructure for water resource management in the area.
With a controlled spillway type and a drainage area of 15 square miles, New Wood plays a significant role in managing water flow and mitigating flood risks in the region. Its risk management measures and emergency action plan (EAP) status are not specified in the data, indicating potential areas for improvement in enhancing the dam's resilience to climate change impacts. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, New Wood presents an intriguing case study of a vital structure in need of continued monitoring and maintenance to safeguard against potential risks and ensure sustainable water management practices in the face of changing environmental 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 New Wood -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spirit River At Spirit Falls | 226 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Merrill | 190 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Merrill | 3,620 cfs | → |
| Rib River At Rib Falls | 713 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River At Rothschild | 4,880 cfs | → |
| Eau Claire River At Kelly | 253 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near New Wood.
Boat launches
- Spirit Lake -- Access Nr State Hwy 102
- Purple Loosestrife -- Island In Alexander Lake 0.15mi Se Pine Grove Rd
- State Highway 86 Tomahawk
- State Highway 102 854, Rib Lake
- Alexander Flowage -- Access
- South Harper Lake -- Ramp
Campgrounds
- Camp New Wood County Park Campground
- Camp New Wood County Park
- Lakeview Park Campground
- Council Grounds State Park
- Sara Park
- Underdown County Park Campground
Paddle runs
- Forest Road 144 To Forest Road 148
- Headwaters To Footbridge
- Footbridge To Forest Road 144
- Forest Road 148 To Forest Road 149
- Forest Road 149 To West Forest Boundary
More reservoirs
Track New Wood 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 New Wood
Where does the data for New Wood 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 New Wood.