Hiland Lake Dam
Hiland Lake Dam is a gravity dam located in Livingston County, Michigan, built in 1882. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Hiland Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Hiland Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Washtenaw County Dpw (private). It impounds the Portage River (hell Creek) near Hell.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 120 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 527 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 79 square miles. Completed in 1882, 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 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 11/01/2018. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Livingston |
| Nearest City | Hell |
| River/Stream | Portage River (hell Creek) |
| Coordinates | 42.47917, -83.99753 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 120 ft |
| Year Completed | 1882 (144 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 740 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 527 acres |
| Drainage Area | 79 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 750 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Washtenaw County DPW |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/01/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00602 |
| Federal ID | MI00602 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |