Lake Redstone
Lake Redstone is a gravity dam located in Sauk County, Wisconsin, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Redstone
The primary purpose of Lake Redstone is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Sauk County (local government). It impounds the Big Creek near Reedsburg.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 612 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 15,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 29 square miles. Completed in 1967, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/19/2022.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
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 | Sauk |
| Nearest City | Reedsburg |
| River/Stream | Big Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.58670, -90.08712 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 15,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 15,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 612 acres |
| Drainage Area | 29 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Sauk County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/19/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00707 |
| Federal ID | WI00707 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |