Merry Lake Dam
Merry Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Hillsdale County, Michigan, built in 1966. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Merry Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Merry Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Hillsdale County Drain Commissioner (private). It impounds the Silver Creek near Pioneer Ohio.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 100 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,375 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 27 square miles. Completed in 1966, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 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 10/24/2019.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Hillsdale |
| Nearest City | Pioneer Ohio |
| River/Stream | Silver Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.72000, -84.57500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,375 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,375 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 100 acres |
| Drainage Area | 27 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Hillsdale County Drain Commissioner |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/24/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00413 |
| Federal ID | MI00413 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |