Rock Falls

About Rock Falls

Rock Falls is a dam in Dunn, Wisconsin. The dam is owned by Town Of Rock Creek (local government). It impounds the Rock Creek near Rock Falls.

The dam stands 43 feet tall and stretches 80 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 80 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 32 square miles. Completed in 1864, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.

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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/07/2008. That was 17 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.

At 43 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.

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.