Gile
Gile is an earth dam located in Iron County, Wisconsin, built in 1941. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Gile
Gile is a dam in Iron, Wisconsin. It impounds the West Fork, Montreal Rive.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 899 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,317 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 38,000 acre-feet. Completed in 1941, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 06/10/2025.
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 | Iron |
| River/Stream | West Fork, Montreal Rive |
| Coordinates | 46.42542, -90.22659 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 899 ft |
| Year Completed | 1941 (85 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 38,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 38,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 37,064 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,317 acres |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner Type | Not Listed |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/10/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00042 |
| Federal ID | WI00042 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |