Lower Canadian Lakes Dam is an earth dam located in Mecosta County, Michigan, built in 1965. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 23 ft23 ft tall and 800 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lower Canadian Lakes Dam
The primary purpose of Lower Canadian Lakes Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Canadian Lakes Property Owners Assn (private). It impounds the Cedar Creek near Altona.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 361 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,025 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/19/2020.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Mecosta |
| Nearest City | Altona |
| River/Stream | Cedar Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.57333, -85.30667 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,025 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,025 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,325 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 361 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 250 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Canadian Lakes Property Owners Assn |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 10/19/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00408 |
| Federal ID | MI00408 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |