Little Quinnesec Falls Dam

About Little Quinnesec Falls Dam

The primary purpose of Little Quinnesec Falls Dam is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Consolidated Water Company (private). It impounds the Menominee River near Niagara, Wi.

The dam stands 65 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 440 acres, has a storage capacity of 1,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2,470 square miles. Completed in 1916, the structure is over a century 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/31/1990. That was 35 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.

At 65 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.

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 Michigan dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.

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