Sessions Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Ionia County, Michigan, built in 1981. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 66 ft66 ft tall and 1,500 ft long, taller than 96% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Sessions Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Sessions Creek Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mdnr Parks & Recreation (state). It impounds the Sessions Creek near Saranac.
The dam stands 66 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 110 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1981, the structure is 45 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 09/29/2017.
At 66 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Ionia |
| Nearest City | Saranac |
| River/Stream | Sessions Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.94545, -85.12749 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 66 ft |
| Dam Height | 66 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1981 (45 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,900 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 110 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,860 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Mdnr Parks & Recreation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/29/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI00794 |
| Federal ID | MI00794 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |