Sturgis Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sturgis Dam |
|
|---|---|
| Official name | Sturgis Dam |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Lockport Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan Near Centreville, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 41°58′12″N 85°32′19″W / 41.969905°N 85.538569°W |
| Purpose | Power |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1909 |
| Opening date | 1911 |
| Construction cost | $190,000 |
| Owner(s) | Sturgis, Michigan |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Embankment, earth-fill |
| Impounds | St. Joseph River |
| Height | 24 ft (7 m) |
| Length | 308 ft (94 m) |
| Width (crest) | 22 ft (7 m) |
| Width (base) | 800 ft (244 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Sturgis Reservoir |
| Power station | |
| Operator(s) | City of Sturgis |
| Commission date | 1909 |
| Turbines | 2 x 550kw Allis-Chalmers Vertical Shaft Units, 2 x 750kw Allis-Chalmers Horizontal Tube Units |
Sturgis Dam is a special dam in Michigan that uses the St. Joseph River to make electricity. It has a power station that helps provide power for the city of Sturgis.
About the Dam
The Sturgis Dam was the first power plant in Michigan built and owned by a city. It's named after the city of Sturgis, which still owns and runs it. The dam is about 17 miles (27 km) away from the city.
The people of Sturgis voted to build the dam. They approved spending $190,000 for its construction. Building the dam started in 1909, and it began making electricity on September 3, 1911.
Today, the power plant produces a small but important part of the city's electricity. It has saved the city a lot of money over the years by reducing the need to buy power from other companies.
Dam History
When the dam was being planned, local cities had just gained the right to buy land for public projects. However, this special right was not needed for the Sturgis Dam. At that time, there were no other dams further up the St. Joseph River.
The original design of the dam's power station had four levels. When it was first built, it had equipment to handle electricity and protect against lightning. The lowest level held large transformers that helped manage the power.
The company that built the main parts of the dam was Carpenter & Anderson. The entire project was overseen by an engineer named Gardner S. Williams.
In the 1930s, two ponds were built near the dam to help raise fish for the river. These ponds are no longer there today. In 1982, a second power station was added to the dam, which allowed it to make even more electricity.
In 2011, a large rock and a plaque were placed at the dam. This was to celebrate its 100th year of making power.
How the Dam Works
This hydroelectric dam can produce a lot of electricity, up to 2,600 kilowatts. The first two power units made 550 kilowatts each. The newer units added in 1982 can make 750 kilowatts each.
The dam has 33 gates that hold back the St. Joseph River. This creates a large body of water called the Sturgis Reservoir.
In July 2016, the city had to lower the water level of the Sturgis Reservoir. This was an emergency to fix parts of the dam's earth wall. The water level was lowered by about 3 feet (0.9 meters). This caused some concern for local farms that use river water for their crops.
