Richards Mill
Richards Mill is a gravity dam located in Marquette County, Wisconsin, built in 1882. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Richards Mill
The primary purpose of Richards Mill is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Emery Rehabilitation District (local government). It impounds the Ox Creek.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 220 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1882, the structure is over a century old.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/17/2019.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Marquette |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Ox Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.78770, -89.44578 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1882 (144 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 220 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 220 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 119 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 218 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Lake Emery Rehabilitation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/17/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00159 |
| Federal ID | WI00159 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |