Otter Lake Dam
Otter Lake Dam is a gravity dam located in Houghton County, Michigan, built in 1978. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Otter Lake Dam
Otter Lake Dam is a dam in Houghton, Michigan. The dam is owned by Houghton County (private). It impounds the Sturgeon River near Chassell.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 145 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 935 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 4,272 acre-feet. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 06/13/2019.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Houghton |
| Nearest City | Chassell |
| River/Stream | Sturgeon River |
| Coordinates | 46.92972, -88.55361 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 145 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,272 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,272 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,560 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 935 acres |
| Max Discharge | 1,380 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Houghton County |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/13/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00428 |
| Federal ID | MI00428 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |