Karsten No. 1

TR-HORICON MARSH· Dodge, Wisconsin· Built 1971· Gravity· 18 ft tall
Low Hazard Recreation Private

Key Takeaway

Karsten No. 1 is classified as low hazard in Wisconsin. It was completed in 1971 and is 55 years old. Its primary use is recreation.

Physical Details

Dam Height 18 ft (taller than 55.3% in WI)
Dam Length500 ft
Dam TypeGravity
Max Storage86 acre-ft
Normal Storage32 acre-ft
Surface Area6 acres
Drainage Area1 sq mi
Max Discharge70 cfs
Year Completed1971 (55 years old)
NID IDWI00885

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: Yes
Last Inspection: August 14, 2012
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: WIDNR

Ownership

Karsten, John & Susan

Private

Nearby Dams

Horicon

Dodge, WI

Low Hazard 12 ft

Upper Mayville

Dodge, WI

Low Hazard 15 ft

Furnace Bridge

Dodge, WI

Significant Hazard 14 ft

Kekoskee

Dodge, WI

Significant Hazard 16 ft

Karsten No. 2

Dodge, WI

Low Hazard 24 ft

Upper Horicon

Dodge, WI

Low Hazard 8 ft

Frankfurth Marsh

Dodge, WI

Low Hazard 7 ft

Hustisford

Dodge, WI

Low Hazard 11 ft

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Karsten No. 1?

Karsten No. 1 is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Karsten No. 1?

Karsten No. 1 is owned by Karsten, John & Susan (Private). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Karsten No. 1 built?

Karsten No. 1 was completed in 1971, making it 55 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Karsten No. 1?

Karsten No. 1 serves the following purposes: Recreation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Karsten No. 1?

Karsten No. 1 has a dam height of 18 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

When was Karsten No. 1 last inspected?

Karsten No. 1 was last inspected on August 14, 2012. Inspection dates indicate when a formal review occurred, not the results of that inspection.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.