Oxbow Dam
Oxbow Dam is an earth dam located in Oakland County, Michigan, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Oxbow Dam
The primary purpose of Oxbow Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Oakland County Drain Commissioner (private). It impounds the Huron River near Oxbow.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 255 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 290 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 25 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 08/30/2019.
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 | Oakland |
| Nearest City | Oxbow |
| River/Stream | Huron River |
| Coordinates | 42.63950, -83.48277 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 255 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,900 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 290 acres |
| Drainage Area | 25 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 458 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Oakland County Drain Commissioner |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/30/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00263 |
| Federal ID | MI00263 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |