Mill Creek Structure
Mill Creek Structure is an earth dam located in Lapeer County, Michigan, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Mill Creek Structure
The primary purpose of Mill Creek Structure 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 North Branch Mill Creek Intercounty (private). It impounds the North Branch Mill Creek near Yale.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 1,190 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 250 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,965 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 22 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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 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 07/06/2018. That was 7 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 | Lapeer |
| Nearest City | Yale |
| River/Stream | North Branch Mill Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.08333, -83.08333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,190 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,965 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,965 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,670 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 250 acres |
| Drainage Area | 22 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 70,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | North Branch Mill Creek Intercounty |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/06/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00105 |
| Federal ID | MI00105 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |