Michigan Center Dam is a gravity dam located in Jackson County, Michigan, built in 1911. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 10 ft10 ft tall and 90 ft long. 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 Michigan Center Dam
The primary purpose of Michigan Center Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Leoni Township (local government). It impounds the Grand River near Michigan Center.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 90 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,160 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 62 square miles. Completed in 1911, the structure is over a century old.
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 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 11/28/2017.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Michigan Center |
| River/Stream | Grand River |
| Coordinates | 42.22893, -84.32738 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 90 ft |
| Year Completed | 1911 (115 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,280 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,160 acres |
| Drainage Area | 62 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 420 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Leoni Township |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/28/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00122 |
| Federal ID | MI00122 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |