Upper Stony Lake Dam
Upper Stony Lake Dam is a gravity dam located in Macomb County, Michigan, built in 1961. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Upper Stony Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Upper Stony Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Huron-clinton Metro Authority (local government). It impounds the Stony Creek near Stony Creek.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 1,550 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 90 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,240 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 38 square miles. Completed in 1961, 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 07/23/2020.
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 | Macomb |
| Nearest City | Stony Creek |
| River/Stream | Stony Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.73667, -83.07167 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,550 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,240 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,240 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 520 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 90 acres |
| Drainage Area | 38 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,470 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Huron-Clinton Metro Authority |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/23/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00686 |
| Federal ID | MI00686 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |