Upper Hiawatha Dam
Upper Hiawatha Dam is an earth dam located in Montmorency County, Michigan, built in 1947. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Upper Hiawatha Dam
The primary purpose of Upper Hiawatha Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Twin Dams Owners Association (private). It impounds the Brush Creek near Hillman.
The dam stands 9 feet tall and stretches 226 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 72 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1947, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/15/2018.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Montmorency |
| Nearest City | Hillman |
| River/Stream | Brush Creek |
| Coordinates | 45.09875, -84.06006 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Length | 226 ft |
| Year Completed | 1947 (79 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Twin Dams Owners Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/15/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00134 |
| Federal ID | MI00134 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |