Browns Pond Dam
Browns Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Muskegon County, Michigan, built in 1844. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Browns Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Browns Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Blue Lake Township (local government). It impounds the Sand Creek near Montague.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 260 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 125 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1844, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half 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 05/08/2015. That was over 10 years ago.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Muskegon |
| Nearest City | Montague |
| River/Stream | Sand Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.46028, -86.25944 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 260 ft |
| Year Completed | 1844 (182 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 125 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 125 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 70 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 230 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Blue Lake Township |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/08/2015 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00228 |
| Federal ID | MI00228 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |