Morley Dam is a gravity dam located in Mecosta County, Michigan, built in 1908. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 22 ft22 ft tall and 460 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 Morley Dam
The primary purpose of Morley Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Village of Morley (local government). It impounds the Little Muskegon River near Morley.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 460 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 57 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 157 square miles. Completed in 1908, 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 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 09/30/2016. That was over 10 years ago.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Mecosta |
| Nearest City | Morley |
| River/Stream | Little Muskegon River |
| Coordinates | 43.48580, -85.44469 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 460 ft |
| Year Completed | 1908 (118 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 57 acres |
| Drainage Area | 157 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,375 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Village of Morley |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/30/2016 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00212 |
| Federal ID | MI00212 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |