Osseo dam
Osseo
Osseo, located in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, is home to the Osseo Roller Mill, a local government-owned dam on the South Fork Buffalo River. This gravity dam, completed in 1860, serves primarily for recreation purposes and stands at a height of 14 feet with a structural height of 14 feet and a length of 451 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 100 acre-feet and a drainage area of 38.9 square miles, making it a significant feature in the area.
With a high hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment, the Osseo dam is regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance. The risk assessment for the dam is categorized as very high, emphasizing the importance of proper management measures and emergency preparedness. Despite being an older structure, the Osseo Roller Mill dam continues to provide recreational opportunities and serves as a valuable asset to the community.
In recent years, the dam has undergone modifications in 1937 and 1997, showcasing efforts to maintain and improve its functionality. With a controlled spillway and a maximum discharge of 2000 cubic feet per second, the Osseo dam remains a key feature in the area's water resource management. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of structures like the Osseo Roller Mill dam in maintaining water availability and safety is crucial for sustainable development and environmental stewardship in the region.
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 Osseo -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chippewa River At Chippewa Falls | 3,370 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Arcadia | 555 cfs | → |
| Black River Ds St Hwy 54 @ Black River Falls | 652 cfs | → |
| Black River At Neillsville | 196 cfs | → |
| Trempealeau River At Dodge | 593 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Galesville | 1,290 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Osseo.
Boat launches
- Coon Fork Lake -- Access
- Lake Eau Claire --- Access Near Sd Ln
- Fall Creek Pond -- Access
- Lake Eau Claire -- Access Nr County Rd South Dakota
- Lake Eau Claire -- Access - Nd Cir
- Lake Altoona -- Access Off Kewin St
Campgrounds
- Crystal Lake Park - Strum
- Harstad Park
- Coon Fork Lake
- Col Larson County Park
- Hixton Village Campground
- Lions Club - Four Seasons Park - Independence
Fishing spots
Track Osseo 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 Osseo
Where does the data for Osseo 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.