Waterford Dam
Waterford Dam is a gravity dam located in Wayne County, Michigan, built in 1925. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Waterford Dam
The primary purpose of Waterford Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Cascades Of Northville (private). It impounds the Middle Branch River Rouge near Plymouth.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 995 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 35 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 250 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 53 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 09/06/2018. That was 7 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 | Plymouth |
| River/Stream | Middle Branch River Rouge |
| Coordinates | 42.41500, -83.46833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 995 ft |
| Year Completed | 1925 (101 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 250 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 250 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
| Drainage Area | 53 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,845 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Cascades of Northville |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/06/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00399 |
| Federal ID | MI00399 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |