Galesville Mill dam
Galesville Mill
Galesville Mill, also known as Davis, is a historic dam located in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, along the banks of Beaver Creek. Built in 1867, this Gravity-type dam stands at a height of 25 feet with a hydraulic height of 17 feet, serving primarily as a recreational site for water enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. With a storage capacity of 590 acre-feet and a drainage area of 138 square miles, the dam offers a serene surface area of 107 acres for visitors to enjoy.
Despite its age, Galesville Mill remains in fair condition as of the last assessment in November 2020, with a high hazard potential due to its structural integrity and the surrounding area's susceptibility to flooding. The dam is under state jurisdiction and regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, ensuring that it undergoes regular inspections and maintenance to meet safety standards. While the dam has not been significantly modified since 1913, its risk assessment is categorized as moderate, highlighting the importance of ongoing risk management measures to safeguard against potential emergencies.
With its picturesque location and historical significance, Galesville Mill continues to be a popular destination for outdoor recreation in the region. As climate change impacts water resources and extreme weather events become more frequent, the preservation and maintenance of dams like Galesville Mill are crucial for ensuring both public safety and the conservation of natural habitats along rivers and streams. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to recognize the importance of sustainable management practices to protect these valuable assets for future generations 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 Galesville Mill -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black River Near Galesville | 1,290 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Dodge | 593 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Arcadia | 555 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Winona | 38,900 cfs | → |
| La Crosse River Near La Crosse | 425 cfs | → |
| Root River Near Houston | 829 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Galesville Mill.
Boat launches
- Marinuka Lake -- Access
- Black River -- Access Nr State Hwy 35
- Mississippi River -- Round Lake -- Access
- Mississippi River -- Trempealeau Landing
- Long Lake -- Landing
- Trempealeau River -- Perrot State Park
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Franklin St. Fishing Pier
- Huff Street Fishing Pier
- Dacota Street Fishing Pier
- New Albin Big Lake
- French Creek
- Pine Creek
Track Galesville Mill 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 Galesville Mill
Where does the data for Galesville Mill 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 High 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 Galesville Mill.