Putney Dam
Putney Dam is an earth dam located in Jackson County, Michigan, built in 1848. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Putney Dam
The primary purpose of Putney Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Onalee Riess (private). It impounds the Mill Creek near Liberty.
The dam stands 9 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 80 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1848, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 09/17/2004. That was over 21 years ago.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Liberty |
| River/Stream | Mill Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.08833, -84.42500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1848 (178 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 40 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Onalee Riess |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/17/2004 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00722 |
| Federal ID | MI00722 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |