Bad Axe 17 is an earth dam located in Vernon County, Wisconsin, built in 1965. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 42 ft42 ft tall and 415 ft long, taller than 88% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Bad Axe 17
The primary purpose of Bad Axe 17 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Vernon County (local government). It impounds the Tr Hornby Hollow Creek.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 415 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 180 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/17/2016. That was over 10 years ago.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 88% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Vernon |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Tr Hornby Hollow Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.48235, -90.97039 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 415 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 197 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Vernon County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/17/2016 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00411 |
| Federal ID | WI00411 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |