Little Thornapple River
Little Thornapple River is a gravity dam located in Rusk County, Wisconsin, built in 1950. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Little Thornapple River
The primary purpose of Little Thornapple River is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Rusk County (local government). It impounds the Little Thornapple.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 232 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1950, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/29/2014. That was over 11 years ago.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Rusk |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Little Thornapple |
| Coordinates | 45.60789, -91.08508 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 850 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 232 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,416 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Rusk County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/29/2014 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00300 |
| Federal ID | WI00300 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |