Hidden Valley Farms dam
Hidden Valley Farms
Hidden Valley Farms, located in Lafayette, Wisconsin, is a privately owned fish and wildlife pond regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. With a dam height of 30 feet and a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet, this earth dam serves as a vital habitat for local wildlife in the area. The dam, completed in an unspecified year, covers an impressive surface area of 8 acres and is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway to manage water flow.
Despite its significant hazard potential, Hidden Valley Farms' dam is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment. The dam poses a moderate risk, with a risk assessment rating of 3. Emergency action plans and inundation maps have not been prepared or updated, highlighting the need for improved risk management measures. The dam undergoes inspections every 3 years to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Mark Pocan, the Democratic representative for the area, oversees Hidden Valley Farms within the Rock Island District. As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore the hidden wonders of this wildlife pond, it is essential to recognize the importance of sustainable management practices to protect the surrounding environment and wildlife habitats.
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 Hidden Valley Farms -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pecatonica River At Darlington | 191 cfs | → |
| Platte River Near Rockville | 182 cfs | → |
| East Br Pecatonica River Near Blanchardville | 153 cfs | → |
| Sinsinawa River Near Menominee | 21 cfs | → |
| Grant River At Burton | 241 cfs | → |
| Pecatonica River At Martintown | 689 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hidden Valley Farms.
Boat launches
- Lake Joy -- Campground Boat Launch
- Pecatonica River -- Access At Cth G
- Town Of Mineral Point
- Pecatonica River -- Darlington - Black Bridge Park Boat Access
- Pecatonica River -- Darlington - Collins Park Boat Access (Carry In)
- Pecatonica River -- Darlington -- Piggly Wiggly Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Pecatonica River Trails Park Campground
- Moundview Park
- Moundsview Park
- Blackhawk Lake Rec Area - Highland
- Governor Dodge State Park Campground
- Wolf Creek Cg
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Lone Rock To The Confluence Of The Green And Wisconsin Rivers
- The Big Green River To The River's Mouth At The Mississippi River
- Honey Creek (County Road Y On The Southern Bank) To The State Route 130 Highway Bridge Crossing At Lone Rock
- Western Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument To Boundary Of Effigy Mounds National Monument
More reservoirs
Track Hidden Valley Farms 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 Hidden Valley Farms
Where does the data for Hidden Valley Farms 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.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Hidden Valley Farms.