Lower Paint
Lower Paint is a concrete dam located in Iron County, Michigan, built in 1952. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lower Paint
The primary purpose of Lower Paint is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Wisconsin Electric Power Company (public utility). It impounds the Paint Branch near Florence.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 616 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 340 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,846 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 665 square miles. Completed in 1952, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. 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 08/21/2019.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Iron |
| Nearest City | Florence |
| River/Stream | Paint Branch |
| Coordinates | 46.02100, -88.25800 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 616 ft |
| Year Completed | 1952 (74 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,846 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,846 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,513 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 340 acres |
| Drainage Area | 665 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 11,900 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Wisconsin Electric Power Company |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/21/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00179 |
| Federal ID | MI00179 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |