Little Black River Structure B
Little Black River Structure B is an earth dam located in Cheboygan County, Michigan, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Little Black River Structure B
The primary purpose of Little Black River Structure B 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 Litle Black River near Cheboygan.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 940 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 958 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 14 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/15/2017. That was 8 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Litle Black River |
| Coordinates | 45.65000, -84.51667 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 940 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 958 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 958 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 14 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 970 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Cheboygan |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/15/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00042 |
| Federal ID | MI00042 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |