Lagrange Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Cass County, Michigan, built in 1826. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 15 ft15 ft tall and 500 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 Lagrange Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Lagrange Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lagrange Valley Conservancy, LLC (private). It impounds the Dowagiac Creek near Lagrange.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 600 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 57 square miles. Completed in 1826, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/12/2003. That was over 22 years ago.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Cass |
| Nearest City | Lagrange |
| River/Stream | Dowagiac Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.95639, -86.04056 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1826 (200 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,920 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 600 acres |
| Drainage Area | 57 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,325 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Lagrange Valley Conservancy, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 11/12/2003 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00031 |
| Federal ID | MI00031 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |