Eau Galle Dam
Eau Galle Dam is a rockfill dam located in Pierce County, Wisconsin, built in 1968. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Eau Galle Dam
The primary purpose of Eau Galle Dam 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 Usace - St. Paul District (federal). It impounds the Eau Galle near Spring Valley.
The dam stands 127 feet tall and stretches 1,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 880 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 56,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 64 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/27/2025.
At 127 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Pierce |
| Nearest City | Spring Valley |
| River/Stream | Eau Galle |
| Coordinates | 44.85593, -92.23968 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 127 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 56,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 56,900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,550 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 880 acres |
| Drainage Area | 64 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 18,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - St. Paul District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/27/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00780 |
| Federal ID | WI00780 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |