Chequamegon Waters
Chequamegon Waters is a gravity dam located in Taylor County, Wisconsin, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Chequamegon Waters
The primary purpose of Chequamegon Waters is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Taylor County (local government). It impounds the Yellow near Gilman.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,714 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 45,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 125 square miles. Completed in 1967, 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/09/2020.
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 | Taylor |
| Nearest City | Gilman |
| River/Stream | Yellow |
| Coordinates | 45.20050, -90.71077 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 45,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 45,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 13,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,714 acres |
| Drainage Area | 125 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,910 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Taylor County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/09/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI00854 |
| Federal ID | WI00854 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |