Dams in Michigan
Dam Safety in Michigan
Michigan has 1,019 dams tracked in the National Inventory of Dams. Of these, 146 (14%) are classified as high hazard — meaning failure would probably cause loss of human life — and 149 are classified as significant hazard. Currently, 94 dams in the state have a condition assessment of poor or unsatisfactory, indicating recognized safety deficiencies.
The average dam in Michigan is 81 years old. Many of these aging structures were built before modern dam safety standards were established, which increases the importance of regular inspections and maintenance. The most common purpose for dams in Michigan is recreation, accounting for 691 of the state's dams.
Use the search above to find dams near any address in Michigan, or browse by county below. Each dam listing includes its hazard potential classification, condition assessment, physical characteristics, and inspection history from the NID.
Michigan Dam Facts
| Total Dams | 1,019 |
| High Hazard Dams | 146 |
| Average Dam Age | 81 years |
| Tallest Dam | 210 ft |
| Largest Reservoir | 277,540,000 acre-ft |
| Poor/Unsatisfactory Condition | 94 |
Notable Dams in Michigan
Counties in Michigan
High Hazard Dams in Michigan
| Dam | County | Height | Condition | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | Ontonagon | 210 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Forestville ( Dam 2 ) | Marquette | 130 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Ludington | Mason | 110 ft | Fair | Hydroelectric |
| Hardy | Newaygo | 106 ft | Fair | Hydroelectric |
| Tilden Recirculation Basin | Marquette | 100 ft | Satisfactory | Water Supply |
| Peavy Falls | Iron | 96 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Hodenpyl | Wexford | 90 ft | Fair | Hydroelectric |
| Tippy | Manistee | 82 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Brule | Iron | 79 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Michigamme Falls | Iron | 72 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Prickett Intake & Powerhouse | Baraga | 69 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Hoist | Marquette | 65 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Little Quinnesec Falls Dam | Dickinson | 65 ft | Not Rated | Hydroelectric |
| Mc Clure | Marquette | 64 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Carp River Dam | Marquette | 60 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Alcona | Alcona | 60 ft | Fair | Hydroelectric |
| Carp Intake Dam | Marquette | 57 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Secord Dam | Gladwin | 57 ft | Unsatisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Edenville Dam | Gladwin | 57 ft | Unsatisfactory | Recreation |
| Foote | Iosco | 51 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Cooke | Iosco | 50 ft | Fair | Hydroelectric |
| Escanaba No 4 Boney Falls | Delta | 49 ft | Fair | Hydroelectric |
| Chalk Hill | Menominee | 48 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Brown Bridge Dam | Grand Traverse | 46 ft | Not Rated | Recreation |
| Croton | Newaygo | 46 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Ford Lake | Washtenaw | 45 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Fallasburg Dam | Kent | 44 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Norway Point | Alpena | 43 ft | Fair | Hydroelectric |
| Rogers | Mecosta | 43 ft | Fair | Hydroelectric |
| Meeuwenberg Dam | Leelanau | 42 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Five Channels | Iosco | 42 ft | Fair | Hydroelectric |
| Lake Isabella Dam | Isabella | 41 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Cascade | Kent | 41 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Loud | Iosco | 40 ft | Fair | Hydroelectric |
| Bond Falls Control Dam | Ontonagon | 40 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Misteguay Creek 4 | Saginaw | 39 ft | Satisfactory | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Holloway Dam | Genesee | 38 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| French Landing | Wayne | 38 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Mio | Oscoda | 38 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Smallwood Dam | Gladwin | 36 ft | Unsatisfactory | Recreation |
| Berrien Springs Dam | Berrien | 36 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Sanford Dam | Midland | 36 ft | Unsatisfactory | Recreation |
| Lake Lancer Dam | Gladwin | 36 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Superior Dam | Washtenaw | 35 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Lake Doster Dam | Allegan | 34 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Sabin Dam | Grand Traverse | 34 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Clarkston Dam | Oakland | 34 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Barton Dam | Washtenaw | 34 ft | Poor | Water Supply |
| Little Black River Structure A | Cheboygan | 34 ft | Satisfactory | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Tourist Park (marquette Dam 3) | Marquette | 34 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Cornwall Creek Dam | Cheboygan | 33 ft | Poor | Recreation |
| Webber | Ionia | 33 ft | Fair | Hydroelectric |
| Chappel Dam | Gladwin | 32 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| La Barge | Kent | 32 ft | Poor | Hydroelectric |
| Lower Stony Lake Dam | Macomb | 32 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Moores Park Dam | Ingham | 31 ft | Other | |
| Little Black River Structure B | Cheboygan | 31 ft | Poor | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Trowbridge Dam | Allegan | 30 ft | Poor | Recreation |
| Impoundment No.1 | Chippewa | 30 ft | Not Available | Tailings |
| Constantine | St. Joseph | 30 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Silver Lake Main Dam | Marquette | 30 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Lake Adrian Dam | Lenawee | 30 ft | Satisfactory | Water Supply |
| Lower Menominee River Dam | Menominee | 29 ft | Not Rated | Hydroelectric |
| Escanaba No 3 | Delta | 29 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Newburgh Dam | Wayne | 29 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Geddes Dam | Washtenaw | 28 ft | Fair | Recreation |
| Mill Creek Structure | Lapeer | 28 ft | Satisfactory | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Ford Manchester Dam | Washtenaw | 27 ft | Fair | Recreation |
| Holiday Lake Dam | Oceana | 27 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Wilcox Dam | Wayne | 27 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Four Mile Dam | Alpena | 27 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Maple Lake Dam | Van Buren | 27 ft | Fair | Recreation |
| Heron Dam | Oakland | 26 ft | Fair | Recreation |
| Ford Dam | Baraga | 26 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Morrow | Kalamazoo | 26 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Addison Mill Pond Dam | Lenawee | 25 ft | Fair | Recreation |
| Upper Silver Lake Dam | Oceana | 25 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Cedar River Dam | Antrim | 25 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Manistique Papers Dam | Schoolcraft | 25 ft | Poor | Recreation |
| Sturgis | St. Joseph | 25 ft | Poor | Hydroelectric |
| Little Black River Structure D | Cheboygan | 25 ft | Satisfactory | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Carrier Creek Structure A | Eaton | 24 ft | Satisfactory | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Upper Stony Lake Dam | Macomb | 24 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Phoenix Dam | Wayne | 24 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Rugg Pond Dam | Kalkaska | 24 ft | Fair | Recreation |
| Grand Rapids West Side Dam | Kent | 24 ft | Not Rated | Recreation |
| Ninth Street | Alpena | 24 ft | Fair | Hydroelectric |
| Wildwood Lake Dam | Cheboygan | 23 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Hamlin Lake Dam | Mason | 23 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Mottville | St. Joseph | 23 ft | Fair | Hydroelectric |
| Buchanan | Berrien | 23 ft | Satisfactory | Hydroelectric |
| Hamilton Dam | Genesee | 22 ft | Fair | Water Supply |
| Wildwood Lake Dam | Oakland | 22 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Brooklyn Dam | Jackson | 22 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Menasha Dam | Allegan | 22 ft | Poor | Hydroelectric |
| Little Black River Structure C | Cheboygan | 22 ft | Satisfactory | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Otsego Dam | Allegan | 21 ft | Fair | Recreation |
| Middle Comstock Dam | Kalamazoo | 21 ft | Not Rated | Recreation |
| Waterford Dam | Wayne | 21 ft | Satisfactory | Recreation |
| Muskegon Waste Water Lagoons | Muskegon | 21 ft | Satisfactory | Other |