Wigwam Bay Wildlife Area Dike

Old Rifle River Channel· Arenac, Michigan· Built 1940· Earth· 9 ft tall
Low Hazard Recreation Other State Government

Key Takeaway

Wigwam Bay Wildlife Area Dike is classified as low hazard in Michigan. It was completed in 1940 and is 86 years old. Its primary use is recreation.

Physical Details

Dam Height 9 ft (taller than 14.1% in MI)
Dam Length26,000 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage2.7K acre-ft
Normal Storage1.5K acre-ft
Surface Area750 acres
Drainage Area1 sq mi
Year Completed1940 (86 years old)
NID IDMI01088

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
Last Inspection: April 22, 2015
State Regulated: No

Ownership

MDNR Wildlife

State Government

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Wigwam Bay Wildlife Area Dike?

Wigwam Bay Wildlife Area Dike is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Wigwam Bay Wildlife Area Dike?

Wigwam Bay Wildlife Area Dike is owned by MDNR Wildlife (State Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Wigwam Bay Wildlife Area Dike built?

Wigwam Bay Wildlife Area Dike was completed in 1940, making it 86 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Wigwam Bay Wildlife Area Dike?

Wigwam Bay Wildlife Area Dike serves the following purposes: Recreation, Other. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Wigwam Bay Wildlife Area Dike?

Wigwam Bay Wildlife Area Dike has a dam height of 9 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

When was Wigwam Bay Wildlife Area Dike last inspected?

Wigwam Bay Wildlife Area Dike was last inspected on April 22, 2015. Inspection dates indicate when a formal review occurred, not the results of that inspection.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.