Monterey Lake Dam
Monterey Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Allegan County, Michigan, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Monterey Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Monterey Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Sandy Pines Wilderness (private). It impounds the Pigeon Creek near Hamilton.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 240 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,790 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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 12/03/2019.
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 | Allegan |
| Nearest City | Hamilton |
| River/Stream | Pigeon Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.68941, -85.81893 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,790 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,790 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,780 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 240 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 320 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Sandy Pines Wilderness |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/03/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00472 |
| Federal ID | MI00472 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |