Manawa Dam is a gravity dam located in Waupaca County, Wisconsin, built in 1920. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 15 ft15 ft tall and 146 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 Manawa Dam
The primary purpose of Manawa Dam is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. It impounds the Little Wolf near Manawa.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 146 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 195 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,070 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 311 square miles. Completed in 1920, 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. The most recent inspection on record was 06/27/2023.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Waupaca |
| Nearest City | Manawa |
| River/Stream | Little Wolf |
| Coordinates | 44.46610, -88.91920 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 146 ft |
| Year Completed | 1920 (106 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,070 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,070 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,070 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 195 acres |
| Drainage Area | 311 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner Type | Not Listed |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/27/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00225 |
| Federal ID | WI00225 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |