House dam
House
House, also known as Pfister, is a low hazard potential dam located in Sawyer, Wisconsin, along the Hay Creek. This local government-owned structure is state regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Standing at a height of 11 feet with a hydraulic height of 13 feet, House has a normal storage capacity of 36 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 88.3 acre-feet.
Despite its fair condition assessment, House poses low hazard potential and has been last inspected in June 2018, with an inspection frequency of 10 years. The emergency action plan for the dam was last revised in July 2019. While there are no associated structures or federal agency involvements, House remains a crucial part of the local water resource infrastructure, ensuring flood control and water storage capabilities for the surrounding area. Climate and water resource enthusiasts will find House to be an interesting case study in dam management and regulation within the state of Wisconsin.
Located in the Detroit District, House offers a glimpse into the intricacies of dam operation and maintenance, with a focus on safety and risk management. With its state jurisdiction and regulatory oversight, House serves as a vital component in the water resource system of Sawyer County. For those passionate about water resource management and climate resilience, exploring the details of House provides valuable insights into the complexities of maintaining critical infrastructure 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 House -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Namekagon River At Leonards | 154 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River At Bishops Bridge Near Winter | 600 cfs | → |
| Bad River Near Mellen | 101 cfs | → |
| White River Near Ashland | 245 cfs | → |
| North Fish Creek Near Moquah | 55 cfs | → |
| Bad River Near Odanah | 729 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near House.
Boat launches
- Spider Lake -- Access At Heinemann's Landing - Se Side Of Lake
- Tiger Cat Access
- Lost Land Lake -- Public Access
- Mud Lake -- Chief River Public Access
- Clear Lake --/Spider Lake Public Access
- Teal River Flowage -- Access At Se End Of Lake
Campgrounds
- The Ballfield
- Moose Lake Recreation Area Campground
- Moose Lake Recreation Area
- Phipps Landing - St. Croix National Scenic River
- Phipps Landing
- Phipps
Paddle runs
- Forest Road 162 Crossing To Bridge On Blaisdell Lake
- East Forest Boundary To Forest Road 162 Crossing
- Forest Road 149 To West Forest Boundary
- Forest Road 148 To Forest Road 149
- Forest Road 144 To Forest Road 148
- Footbridge To Forest Road 144
More reservoirs
Track House 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 House
Where does the data for House 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 House.