Lake 13 Dam
Lake 13 Dam is an earth dam located in Clare County, Michigan, built in 1948. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake 13 Dam
The primary purpose of Lake 13 Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake 13 Association (private). It impounds the Runyon Creek near Clare.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 75 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 88 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1948, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/14/2019.
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 | Clare |
| Nearest City | Clare |
| River/Stream | Runyon Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.86167, -84.85167 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 75 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 950 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 88 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 96 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Lake 13 Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/14/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00044 |
| Federal ID | MI00044 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |