Dunkirk is a gravity dam located in Dane County, Wisconsin, built in 1915. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 22 ft22 ft tall and 800 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 Dunkirk
The primary purpose of Dunkirk is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Dunkirk Dam Lake District (private). It impounds the Yahara River near Dunkirk.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 70 acres, has a storage capacity of 270 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 414 square miles. Completed in 1915, the structure is over a century old.
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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 09/25/2017.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Dane |
| Nearest City | Dunkirk |
| River/Stream | Yahara River |
| Coordinates | 42.88100, -89.21110 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1915 (111 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 270 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 270 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 70 acres |
| Drainage Area | 414 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,626 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Dunkirk Dam Lake District |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/25/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00118 |
| Federal ID | WI00118 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |