Tippy Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tippy Dam |
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Tippy Dam (July 2017)
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 Location within the state Michigan
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| Location | Dickson Township, Manistee County, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 44°15′36″N 85°56′25″W / 44.26009°N 85.94014°W |
| Opening date | 1918 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Manistee River |
Tippy Dam, also known as Tippy Hydro, is a special kind of dam that makes electricity. It was built way back in 1918. A company called Consumers Energy runs it. The dam was first called Junction Hydro. It got its new name to honor Charles W. Tippy, who was on the company's board. Tippy Dam stretches across the Manistee River. This is about 170 miles from where the river starts. The river then flows all the way to Lake Michigan.
Fun Things to Do at Tippy Dam
The area around Tippy Dam is a fun place to visit! It's called the Tippy Dam State Recreation Area. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources takes care of it.
Just below the dam, you'll find one of the best places to fish in Michigan. People come here to catch trout, steelhead, and salmon. In the fall, when the salmon run happens, lots of anglers stand side-by-side. They try to catch huge king salmon that can weigh more than 20 pounds!
Amazing Bats at Tippy Dam
The hydro spillway chamber at Tippy Dam is a very important home for bats. About 24,600 bats use this area. They roost there during the summer. In the fall, they gather together, which is called swarming. During the winter, they use the chamber for hibernation, which is like a long sleep.
Quick Facts About Tippy Dam
- The water turbines at Tippy Dam produce 20,000 kilowatts of electric power.
