Kilbourn
Kilbourn is a gravity dam located in Columbia County, Wisconsin, built in 1909. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Kilbourn
The primary purpose of Kilbourn is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Alliant Energy (private). It impounds the Wisconsin near Lake Delton.
The dam stands 61 feet tall and stretches 560 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,868 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 36,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7,746 square miles. Completed in 1909, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/02/2022.
At 61 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Wisconsin dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Columbia |
| Nearest City | Lake Delton |
| River/Stream | Wisconsin |
| Coordinates | 43.62673, -89.78130 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 61 ft |
| Dam Height | 61 ft |
| Dam Length | 560 ft |
| Year Completed | 1909 (117 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 36,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 36,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 18,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,868 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7,746 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 80,690 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Alliant Energy |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/02/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00005 |
| Federal ID | WI00005 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |