Nankin Mill Dam
Nankin Mill Dam is a gravity dam located in Wayne County, Michigan, built in 1921. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Nankin Mill Dam
The primary purpose of Nankin Mill Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Wayne Co Dept. Of Public Services (local government). It impounds the M Br River Rouge near Westland.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 140 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 62 square miles. Completed in 1921, 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 01/18/2018. That was 8 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Wayne |
| Nearest City | Westland |
| River/Stream | M Br River Rouge |
| Coordinates | 42.35153, -83.37289 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1921 (105 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 120 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Drainage Area | 62 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,340 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Wayne Co Dept. of Public Services |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/18/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00365 |
| Federal ID | MI00365 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |