Domtar is reporting progress on its multi-year modernization of the Rothschild Dam in Wisconsin, an estimated US$84 million project located near the company’s Rothschild paper mill.
Work began in August 2025 and focuses on replacing the dam’s 276-foot Timber Crib Spillway, which Domtar says is no longer suitable for further patchwork repairs and must be replaced.
Built in 1912 on the Wisconsin River, the dam originally supplied hydroelectric power to the Rothschild Mill and helped channel pulpwood used in pulp and paper production. Although the dam and its hydroelectric generation are no longer central to mill operations, the structure continues to support reservoir management, flood-control-related public safety, recreation and property-tax revenue associated with nearby homes and businesses.
The project is being financed through a combination of public and private contributions. Domtar has committed to paying at least one-third of the estimated cost, while Wisconsin approved US$42 million in financial assistance in 2025. Municipalities bordering Lake Wausau are also providing financial or in-kind support, while the Judd S. Alexander Foundation has offered a US$125,000 matching grant for local contributions.
Since construction began, crews have installed about 160,000 square feet of sheet piling and placed 50,000 tons of aggregate for the cofferdam. Domtar also reports that 1,000 cubic yards of concrete have been poured and that crews have completed 25,000 work hours without a safety incident.
Upcoming work includes removing approximately 30,000 tons of demolition debris, excavating 20,000 cubic yards of material, installing four million pounds of piling and 1,100 tons of reinforcing steel, and pouring another 13,500 cubic yards of concrete.
Domtar links the project and its cost-sharing partnerships to a broader commitment to invest US$100 million in its Rothschild and Nekoosa manufacturing operations in north-central Wisconsin.
According to Dave Faucett, general manager of the Rothschild Mill, the two facilities support an estimated 3,500 local jobs, including about 750 direct employees, and generate approximately US$1 billion in annual economic impact in the region.
Domtar is a North American producer of pulp, paper, packaging and wood products, with manufacturing operations across Canada and the United States.
