Bear Trap Dam is an earth dam located in Iron County, Michigan, built in 1885. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 7 ft7 ft tall and 250 ft long. 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 Bear Trap Dam
The primary purpose of Bear Trap Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gilleylen (private). It impounds the North Branch Paint River near Crystal Falls.
The dam stands 7 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 318 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 655 acre-feet. Completed in 1885, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 01/01/1901. That was over 125 years ago.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Iron |
| Nearest City | Crystal Falls |
| River/Stream | North Branch Paint River |
| Coordinates | 46.29500, -88.92000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1885 (141 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 655 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 655 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 415 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 318 acres |
| Max Discharge | 190 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gilleylen |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 01/01/1901 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00090 |
| Federal ID | MI00090 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |