Middle Eau Claire Lake is a gravity dam located in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, built in 1939. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 16 ft16 ft tall and 100 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 Middle Eau Claire Lake
The primary purpose of Middle Eau Claire Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Bayfield County (local government). It impounds the Eau Claire.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 902 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 57 square miles. Completed in 1939, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 04/25/2019.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Bayfield |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Eau Claire |
| Coordinates | 46.28702, -91.54484 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 902 acres |
| Drainage Area | 57 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 275 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Bayfield County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/25/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00523 |
| Federal ID | WI00523 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |