Chilton is a gravity dam located in Calumet County, Wisconsin, built in 1850. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 13 ft13 ft tall and 80 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 Chilton
The primary purpose of Chilton is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City of Chilton (local government). It impounds the South Branch Manitowoc near Chilton.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 80 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 46 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 90 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 75 square miles. Completed in 1850, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/23/2021.
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 | Calumet |
| Nearest City | Chilton |
| River/Stream | South Branch Manitowoc |
| Coordinates | 44.02748, -88.16420 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 80 ft |
| Year Completed | 1850 (176 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 46 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 46 acres |
| Drainage Area | 75 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,035 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Chilton |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/23/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00104 |
| Federal ID | WI00104 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |