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.
Dam profile
NID height · 17 ft17 ft tall and 300 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 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.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Columbia |
| Nearest City | Fall River |
| River/Stream | North Branch Crawfish River |
| Coordinates | 43.39096, -89.04192 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1859 (167 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 578 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 161 acres |
| Drainage Area | 76 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Village of Fall River |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/17/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00115 |
| Federal ID | WI00115 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |