Fall River

Fall River is a gravity dam located in Columbia County, Wisconsin, built in 1859. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Fall River

The primary purpose of Fall River is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Village Of Fall River (local government). It impounds the North Branch Crawfish River near Fall River.

The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 161 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 76 square miles. Completed in 1859, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.

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 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 06/17/2020.

Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.

Significant HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateWisconsin
CountyColumbia
Nearest CityFall River
River/StreamNorth Branch Crawfish River
Coordinates43.39096, -89.04192

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeGravity
NID Height17 ft
Dam Height17 ft
Dam Length300 ft
Year Completed1859 (167 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage900 acre-ft
Max Storage900 acre-ft
Normal Storage578 acre-ft
Surface Area161 acres
Drainage Area76 sq mi
Max Discharge3,000 cfs
Spillway TypeControlled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerVillage of Fall River
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection06/17/2020
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDWI00115
Federal IDWI00115
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

Nearby Dams