Lake James Dam
Lake James Dam is an earth dam located in Roscommon County, Michigan, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake James Dam
The primary purpose of Lake James Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake James Property Owners Assoc (private). It impounds the Denton Creek near Houghton Lake.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 810 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 900 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,465 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 41 square miles. Completed in 1962, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 09/21/2019.
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 | Roscommon |
| Nearest City | Houghton Lake |
| River/Stream | Denton Creek |
| Coordinates | 44.29833, -84.63333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 810 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,465 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,465 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 750 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 900 acres |
| Drainage Area | 41 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,120 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Lake James Property Owners Assoc |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/21/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00347 |
| Federal ID | MI00347 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |