Dunkirk

Dunkirk is a gravity dam located in Dane County, Wisconsin, built in 1915. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Dunkirk

The primary purpose of Dunkirk 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 Dunkirk Dam Lake District (private). It impounds the Yahara River near Dunkirk.

The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 70 acres, has a storage capacity of 270 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 414 square miles. Completed in 1915, the structure is over a century old.

This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 09/25/2017.

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Low HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateWisconsin
CountyDane
Nearest CityDunkirk
River/StreamYahara River
Coordinates42.88100, -89.21110

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeGravity
NID Height22 ft
Dam Height20 ft
Dam Length800 ft
Year Completed1915 (111 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage270 acre-ft
Normal Storage270 acre-ft
Surface Area70 acres
Drainage Area414 sq mi
Max Discharge4,626 cfs
Spillway TypeControlled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeHydroelectric
OwnerDunkirk Dam Lake District
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection09/25/2017
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDWI00118
Federal IDWI00118
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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