Orchard Lake Dam
Orchard Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Oakland County, Michigan, built in 1968. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Orchard Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Orchard Lake Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Oakland County Drain Commissioner (private). It impounds the Orchard Lake Outlet near West Bloomfield.
The dam stands 8 feet tall and stretches 25 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 850 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 3,400 acre-feet. Completed in 1968, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 11/26/2019.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Oakland |
| Nearest City | West Bloomfield |
| River/Stream | Orchard Lake Outlet |
| Coordinates | 42.59722, -83.37111 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 25 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 850 acres |
| Max Discharge | 160 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Oakland County Drain Commissioner |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/26/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI02570 |
| Federal ID | MI02570 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |