Barton
Barton is a gravity dam located in Washington County, Wisconsin, built in 1846. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Barton
The primary purpose of Barton is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of West Bend (local government). It impounds the Milwaukee near West Bend.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 280 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 170 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 213 square miles. Completed in 1846, 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 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 07/15/2021.
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 | Washington |
| Nearest City | West Bend |
| River/Stream | Milwaukee |
| Coordinates | 43.44239, -88.18130 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 280 ft |
| Year Completed | 1846 (180 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 170 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 170 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 213 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,793 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City Of West Bend |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/15/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00218 |
| Federal ID | WI00218 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |