Liberty Dam
Liberty Dam is an earth dam located in Jackson County, Michigan, built in 1848. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Liberty Dam
The primary purpose of Liberty Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Liberty Real Estate Enterprise (private). It impounds the Grand River near Liberty.
The dam stands 11 feet tall and stretches 130 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 72 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1848, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/30/2018.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Liberty |
| River/Stream | Grand River |
| Coordinates | 42.10188, -84.39978 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Length | 130 ft |
| Year Completed | 1848 (178 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 31 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Liberty Real Estate Enterprise |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/30/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00126 |
| Federal ID | MI00126 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |