Cornwall Creek Dam
Cornwall Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Cheboygan County, Michigan, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Cornwall Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Cornwall Creek Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mdnr Fisheries (state). It impounds the Cornwall Creek near Topinabee.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 583 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 161 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,570 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/26/2019.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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 | Cheboygan |
| Nearest City | Topinabee |
| River/Stream | Cornwall Creek |
| Coordinates | 45.22583, -84.41639 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 583 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,570 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,570 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,740 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 161 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 475 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | MDNR Fisheries |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/26/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00246 |
| Federal ID | MI00246 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |