Union Street Dam

About Union Street Dam

The primary purpose of Union Street Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Traverse City (local government). It impounds the Boardman River near Traverse City.

The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 350 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 11,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 276 square miles. Completed in 1867, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.

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 02/04/2021.

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.

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