Backus Lake Dam
Backus Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Roscommon County, Michigan, built in 1937. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Backus Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Backus Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mdnr Wildlife (state). It impounds the Backus Creek near Prudenville.
The dam stands 8 feet tall and stretches 290 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 600 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1937, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 01/01/2017.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Roscommon |
| Nearest City | Prudenville |
| River/Stream | Backus Creek |
| Coordinates | 44.33000, -84.58167 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 290 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 600 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | MDNR Wildlife |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/01/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00750 |
| Federal ID | MI00750 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |