Bad Axe 34 is an earth dam located in Vernon County, Wisconsin, built in 1965. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 520 ft long, taller than 86% 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 34
The primary purpose of Bad Axe 34 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 South Fork Bad Axe.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 520 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 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 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 04/22/2021.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Vernon |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | South Fork Bad Axe |
| Coordinates | 43.53166, -90.96279 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 520 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,000 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 370 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Vernon County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/22/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00413 |
| Federal ID | WI00413 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |