Briggs Dam is an earth dam located in Van Buren County, Michigan, built in 1898. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 9 ft9 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 Briggs Dam
The primary purpose of Briggs Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Village of Paw Paw (local government). It impounds the South Branch Paw Paw River near Paw Paw.
The dam stands 9 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 64 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 57 square miles. Completed in 1898, the structure is over a century 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/28/2020.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Van Buren |
| Nearest City | Paw Paw |
| River/Stream | South Branch Paw Paw River |
| Coordinates | 42.21833, -85.89500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1898 (128 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 64 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 64 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 9 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 57 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,048 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Village of Paw Paw |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/28/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI02020 |
| Federal ID | MI02020 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |