East Sparta dam
East Sparta
East Sparta, also known as East Sparta Lake, is a federal-owned recreational water resource located in Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. Constructed in 1945 by Stabb Construction under the supervision of the US Army, this earth dam structure spans 210 feet with a height of 12 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 61 acre-feet. The primary purpose of East Sparta is for recreation, offering a tranquil setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy activities such as fishing and boating.
Situated on Sparta Creek, East Sparta serves as a significant water source for the local area, providing a surface area of 4 acres and a normal storage capacity of 25 acre-feet. While the dam is categorized as having a significant hazard potential, it has not undergone recent condition assessments. Despite this, the risk assessment for East Sparta indicates a high level of risk, emphasizing the importance of proper maintenance and monitoring to ensure the safety and functionality of the structure for both water resource and climate enthusiasts who frequent the area.
Managed by the US Army, East Sparta remains a popular destination for outdoor recreation in Monroe County, Wisconsin. With its picturesque setting and diverse wildlife, this reservoir offers a unique opportunity for visitors to connect with nature while appreciating the engineering marvel of the dam itself. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the conservation and preservation of sites like East Sparta are essential in ensuring sustainable water management practices for future generations of enthusiasts to enjoy.
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 East Sparta -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| La Crosse River At Sparta | 209 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo River At State Highway 33 At Ontario | 149 cfs | → |
| Black River Ds St Hwy 54 @ Black River Falls | 1,070 cfs | → |
| Lemonweir River At New Lisbon | 326 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Necedah | 253 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo River At La Farge | 250 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near East Sparta .
Boat launches
- Town Of Angelo
- Winnebago Park
- State Highway 162 Bangor
- Neshonoc Lake -- Access
- Neshonoc Lake -- Swarthout Park Boat Ramp
- Potter Flowage -- Access
Campgrounds
- Pine View Military - Fort Mccoy
- Sparta Walk-In Campground
- Leon Valley Campground
- Mcmullen Park Campground
- Mcmullen County Park
- Village Of Wilton Campground
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track East Sparta 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 East Sparta
Where does the data for East Sparta 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 East Sparta .