Pontiac Lake Dam
Pontiac Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Oakland County, Michigan, built in 1920. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Pontiac Lake Dam
Pontiac Lake Dam is a dam in Oakland, Michigan. The dam is owned by Oakland County Wrc (private). It impounds the Huron River near Oxbow.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 5,750 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 640 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 20 square miles. Completed in 1920, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/05/2019.
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 | Oxbow |
| River/Stream | Huron River |
| Coordinates | 42.66167, -83.45167 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 5,750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1920 (106 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,900 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 640 acres |
| Drainage Area | 20 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 596 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Oakland County WRC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/05/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00265 |
| Federal ID | MI00265 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |