Barton Dam is an earth dam located in Washtenaw County, Michigan, built in 1913. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 34 ft34 ft tall and 1,767 ft long, taller than 78% 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 Barton Dam
The primary purpose of Barton Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Ann Arbor, City of (local government). It impounds the Huron River near Ann Arbor.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 1,767 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 315 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,298 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 728 square miles. Completed in 1913, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/24/2025.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 78% 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 | Washtenaw |
| Nearest City | Ann Arbor |
| River/Stream | Huron River |
| Coordinates | 42.30830, -83.75430 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,767 ft |
| Year Completed | 1913 (113 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,298 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,298 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,040 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 315 acres |
| Drainage Area | 728 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 15,100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Ann Arbor, City of |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/24/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00560 |
| Federal ID | MI00560 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |