Billy Boy
Billy Boy is a gravity dam located in Sawyer County, Wisconsin, built in 1936. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Billy Boy
The primary purpose of Billy Boy 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 Couderay near Couderay.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 40 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8,464 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 53,600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 110 square miles. Completed in 1936, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in 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 04/20/2021.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Sawyer |
| Nearest City | Couderay |
| River/Stream | Couderay |
| Coordinates | 45.84204, -91.40767 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 40 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 53,600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 53,600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 28,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8,464 acres |
| Drainage Area | 110 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 910 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Sawyer County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/20/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00305 |
| Federal ID | WI00305 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |