Boyne River is an earth dam located in Charlevoix County, Michigan, built in 1904. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 37 ft37 ft tall and 865 ft long, taller than 83% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 Boyne River
The primary purpose of Boyne River is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Boyne USA Inc (private). It impounds the Boyne River near Boyne City.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 865 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 80 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,390 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 58 square miles. Completed in 1904, the structure is over a century 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/02/2025.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Charlevoix |
| Nearest City | Boyne City |
| River/Stream | Boyne River |
| Coordinates | 45.19580, -84.95200 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 865 ft |
| Year Completed | 1904 (122 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,390 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,390 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 80 acres |
| Drainage Area | 58 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,346 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Boyne USA Inc |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/02/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00515 |
| Federal ID | MI00515 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |