Lake Louise Dam
Lake Louise Dam is a gravity dam located in Oakland County, Michigan, built in 1925. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Louise Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Louise Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Oakland County Drain Commissioner (private). It impounds the Kearsley Creek near Ortonville.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 303 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 143 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 860 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1925, the structure is over a century old.
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. 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 07/31/2019.
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.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Oakland |
| Nearest City | Ortonville |
| River/Stream | Kearsley Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.82667, -83.43667 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 303 ft |
| Year Completed | 1925 (101 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 860 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 860 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 143 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 555 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Oakland County Drain Commissioner |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/31/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00255 |
| Federal ID | MI00255 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |