Hamilton Dam
Hamilton Dam is a gravity dam located in Genesee County, Michigan, built in 1920. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Hamilton Dam
The primary purpose of Hamilton Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Flint (local government). It impounds the Flint River near Flint.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 274 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 185 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 749 square miles. Completed in 1920, the structure is over a century 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/29/2015. That was 10 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
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 | Genesee |
| Nearest City | Flint |
| River/Stream | Flint River |
| Coordinates | 43.02000, -83.69000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 274 ft |
| Year Completed | 1920 (106 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 185 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 185 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 116 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 749 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 25,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Flint |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/29/2015 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00060 |
| Federal ID | MI00060 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |