Big St Germain
Big St Germain is a gravity dam located in Vilas County, Wisconsin, built in 1923. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Big St Germain
The primary purpose of Big St Germain 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 Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company (public utility). It impounds the St Germain River near Rhinelander.
The dam stands 7 feet tall and stretches 117 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 33,655 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 73 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 08/03/2022.
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Location
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Vilas |
| Nearest City | Rhinelander |
| River/Stream | St Germain River |
| Coordinates | 45.91840, -89.53240 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Length | 117 ft |
| Year Completed | 1923 (103 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 33,655 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 33,655 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 73 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 458 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/03/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WI01146 |
| Federal ID | WI01146 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |