Little Black River Structure a is an earth dam located in Cheboygan County, Michigan, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 34 ft34 ft tall and 350 ft long, taller than 78% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 Little Black River Structure a
The primary purpose of Little Black River Structure a 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 City of Cheboygan (local government). It impounds the Little Black River near Cheboygan.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 350 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 440 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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 08/15/2017. That was 9 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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 | Cheboygan |
| Nearest City | Cheboygan |
| River/Stream | Little Black River |
| Coordinates | 45.66417, -84.54040 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 350 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 440 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 440 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 11,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Cheboygan |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/15/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00040 |
| Federal ID | MI00040 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |