Eau Claire River
Eau Claire River is a gravity dam located in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, built in 1937. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Eau Claire River
The primary purpose of Eau Claire River is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Eau Claire County (local government). It impounds the Eau Claire River near Eau Claire.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 270 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 870 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 17,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 605 square miles. Completed in 1937, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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 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 09/21/2020.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% 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.
Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Eau Claire |
| Nearest City | Eau Claire |
| River/Stream | Eau Claire River |
| Coordinates | 44.75670, -91.14164 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 270 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 17,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 17,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 870 acres |
| Drainage Area | 605 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 25,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Eau Claire County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/21/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00010 |
| Federal ID | WI00010 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |