Spooner Lake is a gravity dam located in Washburn County, Wisconsin, built in 1884. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 11 ft11 ft tall and 200 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 Spooner Lake
The primary purpose of Spooner Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Washburn County (local government). It impounds the Yellow near Spooner.
The dam stands 11 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,092 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,480 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 20 square miles. Completed in 1884, the structure is over a century 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 11/17/2020.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Washburn |
| Nearest City | Spooner |
| River/Stream | Yellow |
| Coordinates | 45.83721, -91.83671 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1884 (142 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,480 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,480 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,092 acres |
| Drainage Area | 20 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 598 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Washburn County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/17/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00665 |
| Federal ID | WI00665 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |