Upper Silver Lake Dam
Upper Silver Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Oceana County, Michigan, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Upper Silver Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Upper Silver Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Upper Silver Lake Improvement Assoc (private). It impounds the Au Sable Creek near Silver Lake Village.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 475 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 126 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1964, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/23/2019.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Michigan dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Oceana |
| Nearest City | Silver Lake Village |
| River/Stream | Au Sable Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.58333, -86.48333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 475 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,120 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 126 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 880 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Upper Silver Lake Improvement Assoc |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/23/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00016 |
| Federal ID | MI00016 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |