Surrey Lake Dam
Surrey Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Clare County, Michigan, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Surrey Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Surrey Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Clare County Drain Commissioner (private). It impounds the Elm Creek near Farwell.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 41 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 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 10/21/2020.
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 | Farwell |
| River/Stream | Elm Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.85015, -84.91056 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 41 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 147 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Clare County Drain Commissioner |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/21/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00116 |
| Federal ID | MI00116 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |