Wau-me-gah Lake Dam
Wau-me-gah Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Oakland County, Michigan, built in 1930. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Wau-me-gah Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Wau-me-gah Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Oakland County Drain Commissioner (private). It impounds the Tributary To Clinton River near Clarkston.
The dam stands 8 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 115 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1930, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 09/18/2019.
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Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Oakland |
| Nearest City | Clarkston |
| River/Stream | Tributary To Clinton River |
| Coordinates | 42.76317, -83.45045 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 115 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 153 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Oakland County Drain Commissioner |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/18/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI01675 |
| Federal ID | MI01675 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |