Amherst is a gravity dam located in Portage County, Wisconsin, built in 1857. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 14 ft14 ft tall and 370 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 Amherst
The primary purpose of Amherst is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Renew Hydro Power, Llc;village of Amherst (local government). It impounds the Waupaca (tomorrow) River near Amherst.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 370 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 48 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 260 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 90 square miles. Completed in 1857, 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 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 08/07/2019.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Portage |
| Nearest City | Amherst |
| River/Stream | Waupaca (tomorrow) River |
| Coordinates | 44.45132, -89.28296 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 370 ft |
| Year Completed | 1857 (169 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 260 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 260 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 116 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 48 acres |
| Drainage Area | 90 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,960 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Renew Hydro Power, Llc;village of Amherst |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/07/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00286 |
| Federal ID | WI00286 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |