Sanford Dam
Sanford Dam is a concrete dam located in Midland County, Michigan, built in 1925. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Sanford Dam
The primary purpose of Sanford Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Midland County (local government). It impounds the Tittawabassee River near Sanford.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 1,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,526 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 15,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,020 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/16/2021.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.
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 | Midland |
| Nearest City | Sanford |
| River/Stream | Tittawabassee River |
| Coordinates | 43.67721, -84.38012 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1925 (101 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 15,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 15,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 15,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,526 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,020 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 31,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Midland County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/16/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00550 |
| Federal ID | MI00550 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |