Lower Mill Dam is an earth dam located in Cass County, Michigan, built in 1840. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 17 ft17 ft tall and 320 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 Lower Mill Dam
The primary purpose of Lower Mill 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 Dowagiac (local government). It impounds the South Branch Dowagiac Creek near Dowagiac.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 320 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 225 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 69 square miles. Completed in 1840, 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. 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 10/28/2016.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Cass |
| Nearest City | Dowagiac |
| River/Stream | South Branch Dowagiac Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.98183, -86.09754 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 320 ft |
| Year Completed | 1840 (186 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 225 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 225 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 30 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 14 acres |
| Drainage Area | 69 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Dowagiac |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/28/2016 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00032 |
| Federal ID | MI00032 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |