Sanford Dam (Michigan)

Sanford Dam
Sanford Dam
Location within the state of Michigan
LocationMidland county, Michigan, U.S.
Coordinates43°48′51″N 84°22′35″W / 43.8141°N 84.3765°W / 43.8141; -84.3765
PurposePower, recreation
Statusinactive
Opening date1926 (1926)
Demolition date2020 (2020)
(destroyed by flood)
Dam and spillways
Type of damembankment
ImpoundsTittabawassee River
Height40 ft (12 m)
Length6,380 ft (1,940 m)
Reservoir
CreatesSanford Lake
Total capacity15,000 acre-feet (19,000,000 m3)
Surface area1,250 acres (5.1 km2)
Normal elevation630 ft (192 m)
Power Station
Installed capacity4.8mW

Sanford Dam was an earthen embankment dam on the Tittabawassee River in Mid Michigan, United States, forming Sanford Lake. The dam was about 12 mile (0.80 km) east of Sanford, on the eastern border of Jerome Township in Midland County. Its height was 40 feet (12 m), the length was 6,380 feet (1,940 m) at its crest.

The dam was built in 1925 for hydroelectric power, flood control and recreation. The dam was equipped with two 2.4 MW turbines capable of generating 4.8 MW of electricity in total.

In May 2020, following heavy rains, the Edenville Dam breached and the Sanford Dam downstream overflowed, which caused major flooding in Midland County, including the city of Midland.