Fishtrap Lake
Fishtrap Lake is a gravity dam located in Sawyer County, Wisconsin, built in 1970. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Fishtrap Lake
The primary purpose of Fishtrap Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Sawyer County (local government). It impounds the Fishtrap Creek.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 216 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 14 square miles. Completed in 1970, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/24/2019.
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 | Sawyer |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Fishtrap Creek |
| Coordinates | 45.95005, -90.94542 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 216 acres |
| Drainage Area | 14 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Sawyer County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/24/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00304 |
| Federal ID | WI00304 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |