Medford
Medford is a buttress dam located in Taylor County, Wisconsin, built in 1875. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Medford
The primary purpose of Medford is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Medford (local government). It impounds the Black near Medford.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 110 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 19 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 90 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 47 square miles. Completed in 1875, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/01/2017.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Taylor |
| Nearest City | Medford |
| River/Stream | Black |
| Coordinates | 45.13870, -90.34777 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Buttress |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 110 ft |
| Year Completed | 1875 (151 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 19 acres |
| Drainage Area | 47 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,900 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CITY OF MEDFORD |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/01/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00315 |
| Federal ID | WI00315 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |