Kearsley Dam is a gravity dam located in Genesee County, Michigan, built in 1929. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 33 ft33 ft tall and 450 ft long, taller than 76% 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 concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Kearsley Dam
The primary purpose of Kearsley 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 Flint (local government). It impounds the Kearsley Creek near Flint.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 250 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,250 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 115 square miles. Completed in 1929, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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 10/01/2019.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 76% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Genesee |
| Nearest City | Flint |
| River/Stream | Kearsley Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.05500, -83.65667 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1929 (97 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,250 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,250 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 250 acres |
| Drainage Area | 115 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,235 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Flint |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/01/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00061 |
| Federal ID | MI00061 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |