Tomah Lake
Tomah Lake is an earth dam located in Monroe County, Wisconsin, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Tomah Lake
Tomah Lake is a dam in Monroe, Wisconsin. The dam is owned by City Of Tomah (local government). It impounds the Lemonweir near Tomah.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 1,657 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 225 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,250 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 30 square miles. Completed in 1936, 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 07/30/2021.
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 | Monroe |
| Nearest City | Tomah |
| River/Stream | Lemonweir |
| Coordinates | 43.98702, -90.51581 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,657 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,250 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,250 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 980 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 225 acres |
| Drainage Area | 30 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | City Of Tomah |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/30/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00161 |
| Federal ID | WI00161 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |