Fords Dam
Fords Dam is a buttress dam located in St. Clair County, Michigan, built in 1930. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Fords Dam
The primary purpose of Fords Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Ralph Scofield (private). It impounds the Black River near Port Huron.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 585 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 93 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 486 square miles. Completed in 1930, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 10/14/2020.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | St. Clair |
| Nearest City | Port Huron |
| River/Stream | Black River |
| Coordinates | 43.05667, -82.60000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Buttress |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 585 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 93 acres |
| Drainage Area | 486 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 15,175 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Ralph Scofield |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/14/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00363 |
| Federal ID | MI00363 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |