Lower Watertown Dam is a gravity dam located in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, built in 1904. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 13 ft13 ft tall and 225 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 Lower Watertown Dam
The primary purpose of Lower Watertown Dam 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 Rock River Power and Light Corporation (private). It impounds the Rock River near Watertown.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 225 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 130 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,280 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 971 square miles. Completed in 1904, 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 08/12/2022.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | Watertown |
| River/Stream | Rock River |
| Coordinates | 43.19189, -88.72565 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Length | 225 ft |
| Year Completed | 1904 (122 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,280 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,280 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 250 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 130 acres |
| Drainage Area | 971 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Rock River Power and Light Corporation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/12/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00141 |
| Federal ID | WI00141 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |