Bad Axe 33
Bad Axe 33 is an earth dam located in Vernon County, Wisconsin, built in 1965. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Bad Axe 33
The primary purpose of Bad Axe 33 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Vernon County (local government). It impounds the Tr South Fork Bad Axe.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 765 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 78 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,420 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 04/22/2021.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Vernon |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Tr South Fork Bad Axe |
| Coordinates | 43.53708, -90.96077 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 765 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,420 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,420 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 417 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 78 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Vernon County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/22/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00414 |
| Federal ID | WI00414 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |