Taum Sauk's reservoir story belongs to Reynolds County ridges

The Taum Sauk name can make the geography fuzzy, so this is worth saying carefully. The 2005 reservoir failure that people remember was on Proffit Mountain in Reynolds County. On December 14, 2005, more than 1.3 billion gallons of water went down the mountain into the East Fork of the Black River and Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park.

The plant is a pumped-storage plant. That means it moves water uphill when power demand is lower, then lets water run back down through turbines when electricity is needed. In a county of steep ridges and narrow river valleys, that kind of energy system makes physical sense. It also means the story is tied to the land, not only to wires on a map.

The part that sticks is how big infrastructure met a beloved state park. The flood damaged Johnson’s Shut-Ins, wiped out park buildings and the campground, and forced a long recovery. That history is well documented by state and federal sources, so it is better to use official accounts than local rumor or dramatic retellings.

For most people, the practical takeaway is simple. Johnson’s Shut-Ins is the public place to visit, and State Parks is the source for current access, trails, swimming conditions, and closures. For how the power project works today, use FERC, DNR, the Public Service Commission, and the plant operator.