Forest Lake Dam
Forest Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Arenac County, Michigan, built in 1971. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Forest Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Forest Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Forest Lake Property Owners Assoc. (private). It impounds the Wells Creek near Omer.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 305 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,440 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 25 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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 05/19/2020.
At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Arenac |
| Nearest City | Omer |
| River/Stream | Wells Creek |
| Coordinates | 44.12167, -84.05833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,440 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,440 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,405 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 305 acres |
| Drainage Area | 25 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Forest Lake Property Owners Assoc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/19/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00437 |
| Federal ID | MI00437 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |