Big St Germain dam
Big St Germain
Big St Germain is a hydroelectric dam located in Vilas, Wisconsin, along the St Germain River. Built in 1923, this Gravity-type dam stands at 7 feet tall and has a Hydraulic height of 4 feet, with a storage capacity of 33,655 acre-feet. The dam serves multiple purposes, including flood risk reduction and hydroelectric power generation, making it a valuable resource for the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Big St Germain has a low hazard potential and a high risk assessment rating. It is equipped with three slide gates for water release and has a spillway width of 19 feet. Despite its age, the dam's condition assessment is not available, and it was last inspected in June 2017. The emergency action plan was last revised in December 2018, highlighting the importance of preparedness and risk management for this critical infrastructure.
As a key feature in the Detroit District's water resource management, Big St Germain plays a vital role in maintaining water levels and providing clean energy to the surrounding area. With its historical significance and ongoing operational importance, this dam stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience 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 Big St Germain -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Muskellunge Creek Near St. Germain | 9 cfs | → |
| Wisconsin River @ Rainbow Lake Nr Lake Tomahawk | 626 cfs | → |
| Muskellunge Ck-Muskellunge L Otl-Nr Eagle River | 2 cfs | → |
| Allequash Creek Site 3 Near Boulder Junction | 4 cfs | → |
| Allequash Creek At Cth M Nr Boulder Junction | 11 cfs | → |
| Stevenson Creek At Cth M Nr Boulder Junction | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big St Germain .
Boat launches
- Big Saint Germain Lake -- Boat Ramp
- Pinewood Drive 8698, Town Of Newbold
- Little Saint Germain Lake -- Boat Ramp
- South Rainbow Drive Town Of Newbold
- County Road J Town Of Newbold
- Little Arbor Vitae Lake -- Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Razorback Lake Campground
- East Star Lake Campground
- West Star Lake Campground
- Camp Nawakwa
- Lac Du Flambeau Tribal Campground
- Big Lake Campground
Fishing spots
Track Big St Germain 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 Big St Germain
Where does the data for Big St Germain 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 Big St Germain .