Upper Appleton Locks and Dam is a concrete dam located in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, built in 1940. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 18 ft18 ft tall and 691 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 Upper Appleton Locks and Dam
The primary purpose of Upper Appleton Locks and 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 - Chicago District;wisconsin DNR (federal). It impounds the Fox near Appleton.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 691 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 582 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 14,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6,070 square miles. Completed in 1940, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/05/2024.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Outagamie |
| Nearest City | Appleton |
| River/Stream | Fox |
| Coordinates | 44.25333, -88.41167 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 691 ft |
| Year Completed | 1940 (86 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 14,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 14,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 582 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6,070 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 27,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Chicago District;wisconsin DNR |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 08/05/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00851 |
| Federal ID | WI00851 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |