Birch Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Mecosta County, Michigan, built in 1985. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 11 ft11 ft tall. 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 Birch Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Birch Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by John Chaput (private). It impounds the Long Lake Outlet.
The dam stands 11 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 65 acre-feet. Completed in 1985, the structure is 41 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 05/28/2002. That was over 24 years ago.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Michigan |
| County | Mecosta |
| River/Stream | Long Lake Outlet |
| Coordinates | 43.77083, -85.29028 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Height | 11 ft |
| Year Completed | 1985 (41 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 65 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 65 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 27 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | John Chaput |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/28/2002 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MI02591 |
| Federal ID | MI02591 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |