Scotts Mill Dam
Scotts Mill Dam is an earth dam located in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, built in 1859. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Scotts Mill Dam
The primary purpose of Scotts Mill Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Kalamazoo County Parks (local government). It impounds the Cook Drain near Adams Park.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 314 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 75 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1859, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/08/2017.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Kalamazoo |
| Nearest City | Adams Park |
| River/Stream | Cook Drain |
| Coordinates | 42.19420, -85.42224 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 314 ft |
| Year Completed | 1859 (167 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 75 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 75 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 480 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Kalamazoo County Parks |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/08/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00148 |
| Federal ID | MI00148 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |