Bischel is a gravity dam located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, built in 1850. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 12 ft12 ft tall and 250 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 Bischel
The primary purpose of Bischel is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town of Ottawa (local government). It impounds the Upper Scuppernong Cr near Dousman.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 80 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/31/2015. That was over 11 years ago.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Waukesha |
| Nearest City | Dousman |
| River/Stream | Upper Scuppernong Cr |
| Coordinates | 42.99706, -88.47814 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1850 (176 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 37 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 630 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Ottawa |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/31/2015 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00330 |
| Federal ID | WI00330 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |