Priest Lake Level Control Structure is an earth dam located in Cass County, Michigan, built in 1974. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 8 ft8 ft tall and 500 ft long. 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 Priest Lake Level Control Structure
The primary purpose of Priest Lake Level Control Structure is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Cass County Drain Commissioner (private). It impounds the Priest Lake Outlet near Niles.
The dam stands 8 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 37 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 240 acre-feet. Completed in 1974, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 11/16/2017.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Cass |
| Nearest City | Niles |
| River/Stream | Priest Lake Outlet |
| Coordinates | 42.03466, -86.13224 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 240 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 240 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 70 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 37 acres |
| Max Discharge | 160 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Cass County Drain Commissioner |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/16/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00770 |
| Federal ID | MI00770 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |