Foerst dam
Foerst
Foerst is a privately owned dam located in Polk, Wisconsin, along the tributary to Little Mirror Lake. The dam, primarily used for recreation, is classified as an Earth dam with a height of 20 feet and a length of 100 feet. Although it was completed in an unspecified year, the dam has a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet and is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway.
Despite being last inspected in 1995, Foerst has a low hazard potential and is currently not rated for its condition. The risk assessment for the dam is considered moderate, with a DSAC assigned date yet to be determined. While it is not owned or funded by federal agencies, it is regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which handles permitting, inspection, and enforcement for the structure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the details of Foerst showcase a unique recreational dam in Wisconsin with potential environmental implications. The dam's location, design, and limited risk profile offer insights into the intersection of human infrastructure and natural ecosystems in the region. As discussions around water management and climate resilience continue to gain importance, understanding the characteristics and regulatory aspects of dams like Foerst can provide valuable context for broader conservation efforts and policy decisions.
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 Foerst -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| St. Croix River At St. Croix Falls | 3,830 cfs | → |
| Snake River Near Pine City | 447 cfs | → |
| St. Croix River Near Danbury | 1,320 cfs | → |
| Kettle River Below Sandstone | 476 cfs | → |
| Willow River @ Willow R State Park Nr Burkhardt | 130 cfs | → |
| Rum River Near St. Francis | 428 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Foerst.
Boat launches
- Long Trade Lake - Atlas Park Boat Ramp
- Little Butternut Lake -- Access
- Round Lake -- Access At S End Of Lake At End Of Stillson Rd
- Big Butternut Lake -- Access
- Holmes Lake -- Access
- Big Trade Lake -- East Access
Campgrounds
- Big Butternut Lake
- Nevers Dam
- Wild River Camp Sites A
- Wild River Camp Sites B
- Wild River State Park
- Wild River Camp Sites C
Paddle runs
Track Foerst 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 Foerst
Where does the data for Foerst 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 Foerst.