Powell Falls is a gravity dam located in Pierce County, Wisconsin, built in 1870. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 21 ft21 ft tall and 150 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Powell Falls
The primary purpose of Powell Falls is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City of River Falls (local government). It impounds the Kinnickinnic River.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 120 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 116 square miles. Completed in 1870, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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. The most recent inspection on record was 09/27/2017.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Pierce |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Kinnickinnic River |
| Coordinates | 44.85093, -92.63899 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1870 (156 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 120 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 120 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 65 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Drainage Area | 116 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,930 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of River Falls |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 09/27/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00079 |
| Federal ID | WI00079 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |