Wisconsin is experiencing an increase in the occurrence of dam failures, which serves as a clear indication of the intensifying storms sweeping through the state.
According to a report released on Thursday by the Wisconsin Policy Forum, Wisconsin experienced 34 dam failures between 2000 and 2023, making it the second-highest state for dam failures during that time period, behind South Carolina.
Interestingly, the majority of these failures, specifically 28 out of 34, occurred since the beginning of 2018, with 18 of them happening since 2020. Fortunately, no human lives were lost due to any of these dam failures.
California boasts a diverse range of dams, numbering over 4,000. These structures vary in size and purpose, with some serving as impressive hydroelectric power sources and others functioning as smaller earthen dams used for agricultural purposes.
The ownership of these dams is equally varied, encompassing a mix of companies, individuals, government and tribal entities, and utilities.
The National Inventory of Dams by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reveals that Wisconsin has a total of 1,004 dams. These dams vary in height, with the smallest one measuring approximately 6 feet (nearly 2 meters) and the largest being the Flambeau dam, standing at an impressive 92 feet (28 meters) tall. The Flambeau dam is located on the Dairyland Reservoir in Rusk County.
More than 200 dams in the inventory are categorized as having a high hazard potential, indicating that their failure could potentially result in human fatalities.
Out of the 34 dam failures that have occurred in Wisconsin in the past 23 years, three of them fell under the high hazard potential category. Additionally, one dam was classified as a significant hazard potential, which means that its failure could lead to economic losses, environmental damage, and other related issues.
Furthermore, 18 dams were considered to have a low hazard potential, meaning that their failure would not result in any loss of human life and would have minimal economic and environmental consequences. The hazard potential of the remaining dams in the inventory has yet to be determined.
Since 2009, every state budget has allocated a minimum of $4 million for dam safety work, as highlighted in the report.
Although this funding has been sufficient to enhance the state’s crucial dams, the report cautions that the increasing frequency and severity of extreme rainfall events due to climate change may present new and more substantial challenges to our dam infrastructure.
The report was compiled by the Wisconsin Policy Forum, who utilized data collected by the Association of State Dam Safety Officials.
The powerful force of flood waters has caused significant damage in Lake Delton, Wisconsin. On June 9, 2008, an earthen dam along a man-made lake gave way due to severe flooding.
This resulted in the emptying of Lake Delton and the devastating consequences that followed. The impact of the flood was so forceful that it tore several homes off their foundations and carried them downstream along the Wisconsin River.
The Root River in Racine, Wisconsin, is experiencing record-breaking water levels, causing it to overflow the Horlick Dam. This surge in water is a result of heavy rains, particularly in Milwaukee.
The recent storms have wreaked havoc across the United States, from the Midwest to the East Coast. As a result, numerous communities have been flooded, leading to the evacuation of hundreds of people.
Additionally, tornadoes spawned by these storms have caused significant damage to houses and tragically resulted in the loss of at least five lives.
The forceful currents caused by the breaking of an earthen dam swept away numerous homes, tearing them from their foundations and carrying them downstream along the Wisconsin River.
Floodwaters caused severe damage in Lake Delton, Wisconsin on June 9, 2008. The force of the water washed out a roadway and led to the emptying of Lake Delton.
The devastating flood also resulted in the destruction of three houses and posed a significant threat to dams in the area. To mitigate the damage, military crews were deployed to assist in the urgent sandbagging efforts.
The situation was particularly dire in Indiana, where streams were rapidly rising to record levels. The photograph captures the aftermath of the flood, highlighting the extent of the destruction caused by the powerful floodwaters.
Jim Dahgren from Wausau, Wisconsin, strolls along the now vacant Lake Delton following the overtopping of Dell Creek Dam on June 9, 2008, in Lake Delton, Wisconsin.
On Monday, June 9, 2008, a shocking incident occurred in Lake Delton, Wisconsin. A house was swept away and ended up in Lake Delton after the lake unexpectedly emptied. This unfortunate event took place amidst a severe flooding situation in the area.
The floodwaters not only washed away four houses but also posed a significant threat to dams in Wisconsin. The situation was so dire that military crews were called in to assist with the urgent sandbagging efforts.
The nearby Indiana streams were also at risk of reaching record-breaking levels. The gravity of the situation was captured in an impactful photograph taken by Andy Manis, an Associated Press photographer.
Workers are currently making improvements to a dam on the south end of Lake Delton in Wisconsin. In June, heavy storms caused erosion along the shoreline, resulting in the lake draining.
Fortunately, the dam held and forced the water into the shoreline, creating a breach. As part of the renovations, better spillways are being constructed to prevent future incidents.