Reservoir is a gravity dam located in Oconto County, Wisconsin, built in 1877. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 15 ft15 ft tall and 212 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 Reservoir
The primary purpose of Reservoir is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Oconto County (local government). It impounds the Mccaslin Brook near Townsend.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 212 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 618 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 18 square miles. Completed in 1877, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. 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 07/15/2021.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Wisconsin dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Oconto |
| Nearest City | Townsend |
| River/Stream | Mccaslin Brook |
| Coordinates | 45.30311, -88.63272 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 212 ft |
| Year Completed | 1877 (149 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 618 acres |
| Drainage Area | 18 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 275 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Oconto County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/15/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00163 |
| Federal ID | WI00163 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |