Island Lake
Island Lake is a gravity dam located in Rusk County, Wisconsin, built in 1875. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Island Lake
The primary purpose of Island Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Rusk County (local government). It impounds the Swift Creek near Island Lake.
The dam stands 11 feet tall and stretches 35 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,222 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 10,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 29 square miles. Completed in 1875, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/18/2019.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Rusk |
| Nearest City | Island Lake |
| River/Stream | Swift Creek |
| Coordinates | 45.32055, -91.37043 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Length | 35 ft |
| Year Completed | 1875 (151 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,222 acres |
| Drainage Area | 29 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 385 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Rusk County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/18/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00299 |
| Federal ID | WI00299 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |