Fairchild dam
Fairchild
Fairchild is a gravity dam located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, along Schoolhouse Creek. Completed in 1955, the dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, with a height of 9 feet and a length of 100 feet. It has a normal storage capacity of 58 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 250 cubic feet per second. The dam has a low hazard potential but is in poor condition, as assessed in August 2019.
Despite its poor condition, Fairchild dam remains under state regulation and inspection by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR). The dam has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, indicating the need for some risk management measures. While no emergency action plan (EAP) or inundation maps have been prepared for the dam, the inspection frequency is set at 10 years to monitor its safety and functionality. With its picturesque location and historical significance, Fairchild dam serves as a valuable resource for water and climate enthusiasts in the region.
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 Fairchild -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black River At Neillsville | 210 cfs | → |
| Black River Ds St Hwy 54 @ Black River Falls | 770 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River At Chippewa Falls | 4,260 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Arcadia | 560 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Galesville | 1,350 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Dodge | 600 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fairchild.
Boat launches
- Coon Fork Lake -- Access
- Rock Dam Lake -- Access
- Lake Eau Claire -- Access Nr County Rd South Dakota
- Lake Eau Claire -- Access - Nd Cir
- Lake Eau Claire --- Access Near Sd Ln
- Mead Lake -- Access
Campgrounds
- Coon Fork Lake
- Wild Rock County Park
- Wildcat Mound County Park
- Rock Dam Park
- Snyder Park
- Gile Memorial Village
Fishing spots
Track Fairchild 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 Fairchild
Where does the data for Fairchild 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 Fairchild.