Lower Hydro is a gravity dam located in Price County, Wisconsin, built in 1923. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 22 ft22 ft tall and 340 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 Lower Hydro
The primary purpose of Lower Hydro is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Flambeau Hydro, LLC (private). It impounds the North Fork Flambeau near Ladysmith.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 340 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 71 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 570 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 762 square miles. Completed in 1923, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected 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. The most recent inspection on record was 07/13/2022.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Price |
| Nearest City | Ladysmith |
| River/Stream | North Fork Flambeau |
| Coordinates | 45.91340, -90.44730 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 340 ft |
| Year Completed | 1923 (103 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 570 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 570 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 570 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 71 acres |
| Drainage Area | 762 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 16,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Flambeau Hydro, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/13/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00785 |
| Federal ID | WI00785 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |