Shamrock Lake Dam
Shamrock Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Clare County, Michigan, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Shamrock Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Shamrock Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Clare (local government). It impounds the Tobacco River near Clare.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 890 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 120 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 882 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 85 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/18/2020.
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 | Clare |
| Nearest City | Clare |
| River/Stream | Tobacco River |
| Coordinates | 43.83041, -84.75294 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 890 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 882 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 882 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 516 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 120 acres |
| Drainage Area | 85 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Clare |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/18/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00622 |
| Federal ID | MI00622 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |