Ripon is an earth dam located in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, built in 1860. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 10 ft10 ft tall and 300 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Ripon
The primary purpose of Ripon is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City of Ripon (local government). It impounds the Silver Creek near Ripon.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 24 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 180 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 23 square miles. Completed in 1860, 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 03/28/2019.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Fond du Lac |
| Nearest City | Ripon |
| River/Stream | Silver Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.84492, -88.83484 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1860 (166 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 130 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 24 acres |
| Drainage Area | 23 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 720 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Ripon |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/28/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00131 |
| Federal ID | WI00131 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |