 Sanford Lake North View |  Sanford Lake Satellite View |
Sanford Lake is a man made reservoir located in Midland County, Michigan. It was formed by the damming of the Tittabawassee River near the village of Sanford, MI. The main body of the lake stretches for about 6 miles (9.7 km) north of the dam, but the water remains deep enough for small boat navigation up past the town of Edenville, MI ten miles (16 km) north of the dam.
Water Quality
The water quality of the lake is good. As a reservoir with a predominantly muddy bottom turbidity is a bit higher than the average natural lake in Michigan. The introduction of Zebra mussels in the 1990’s has significantly improved water clarity, but this has lead to an explosion of weed growth throughout the shallow portions of the lake. Fertilizers from the surrounding homes and agricultural areas have undoubtedly contributed to this growth. The invasive species known as Asian Milfoil has become a problem on the lake and has been controlled by the use of a aquatic herbicide and harvesting since 2003. The Sanford Lake Improvement Board was created in 1975 with the charter to focus on the weed growth at the lake and that still is their focus today. The lake is relatively shallow in most areas, with deeper areas mostly located in the actual river channel within the lake.
Stats and Figures
- Lake Surface area:
- Lake Volume:
- Shoreline Length:
- Widest point:
- Lake Elevation:
- Immediate Watershed Area:
- Extended Watershed Area:
- Average Depth:
- Maximum Depth:
| | 1,489 acres | | 13,899 Acre – Feet | | 34.5 Miles | | ~1/2 mile | | 631 Feet | | 20,971 Acres | | 2000 Square Miles ( Approx.) | | 9.3 feet | | 26 feet |
Sanford Dam Information
Ownership: Boyce Hydro Power, LLC, 6000 South M-30, P.O. Box 15, Edenville, Michigan 48624
tel: (989) 689-3161 / fax: (989) 689-3155
Lee W. Mueller, Co-Member Manager
Frank Christie, General Manager
- Dam Built:
- Number of turbines:
- Generation Capacity:
- Dam height:
- Hydraulic head:
- Sanford Lake impoundment above dam:
- Controlled crest length:
- Spill width:
- Minimum Continual Flow Rate Through Dam:
- Licensed under FERC:
| | 1924 | | 3 | | 3,30 KW | | 36 ft | | 26 ft | | 1,528 acres | | 1,579 ft | | 139 ft | | 210 ft³ / Second | | 1987, relicensing in 2028 |
