West Fork Kickapoo 3 is an earth dam located in Vernon County, Wisconsin, built in 1964. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 33 ft33 ft tall and 500 ft long, taller than 76% 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 West Fork Kickapoo 3
The primary purpose of West Fork Kickapoo 3 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 West Fork Kickapoo.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 208 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1964, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in 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 33 feet, this dam is taller than 76% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Vernon |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Tr West Fork Kickapoo |
| Coordinates | 43.67325, -90.74933 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 208 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 208 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 445 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Vernon County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/22/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00415 |
| Federal ID | WI00415 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |