Nelligan Lake
Nelligan Lake is an earth dam located in Marinette County, Wisconsin, built in 1968. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Nelligan Lake
The primary purpose of Nelligan Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Beaver (local government). It impounds the Murphy Creek.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 32 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 740 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1968, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. 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 03/25/2021.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Wisconsin dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Marinette |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Murphy Creek |
| Coordinates | 45.15328, -88.14740 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 740 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 740 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 220 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 32 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town Of Beaver |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/25/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00452 |
| Federal ID | WI00452 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |