Birch Lake
Birch Lake is a gravity dam located in Washburn County, Wisconsin, built in 1878. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Birch Lake
The primary purpose of Birch Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Washburn County (local government). It impounds the Birch Creek near Birchwood.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,288 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 23,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 66 square miles. Completed in 1878, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in 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 06/05/2019.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Washburn |
| Nearest City | Birchwood |
| River/Stream | Birch Creek |
| Coordinates | 45.65997, -91.55770 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1878 (148 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 23,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 23,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 14,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,288 acres |
| Drainage Area | 66 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,250 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Washburn County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/05/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00085 |
| Federal ID | WI00085 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |