Blackhawk Dam is an earth dam located in Branch County, Michigan, built in 1830. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 18 ft18 ft tall and 1,040 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Blackhawk Dam
The primary purpose of Blackhawk Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Branch County (private). It impounds the Coldwater River near Coldwater.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 1,040 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 200 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 276 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 72 square miles. Completed in 1830, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 10/25/2016.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Branch |
| Nearest City | Coldwater |
| River/Stream | Coldwater River |
| Coordinates | 41.91667, -85.04833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,040 ft |
| Year Completed | 1830 (196 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 276 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 276 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 216 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 200 acres |
| Drainage Area | 72 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,370 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Branch County |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/25/2016 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00020 |
| Federal ID | MI00020 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |