Bentley Sawmill
Bentley Sawmill is a gravity dam located in Portage County, Wisconsin, built in 1850. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Bentley Sawmill
The primary purpose of Bentley Sawmill is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Bigalke, Michael (private). It impounds the Plover River near Stevens Point.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 86 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 550 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 114 square miles. Completed in 1850, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 11/15/2018.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Portage |
| Nearest City | Stevens Point |
| River/Stream | Plover River |
| Coordinates | 44.65619, -89.46574 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1850 (176 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 550 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 550 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 86 acres |
| Drainage Area | 114 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Bigalke, Michael |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/15/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00287 |
| Federal ID | WI00287 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |