Lower Comstock Dam

About Lower Comstock Dam

The primary purpose of Lower Comstock Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Comstock Township (local government). It impounds the Comstock Creek near Comstock.

The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 60 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1850, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.

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. The most recent inspection on record was 11/29/1979. That was 46 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.

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.

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