As part of a larger project evaluating the extent and effects of flow alteration of Great Lakes tributaries, we are constructing a database and GIS map of dam locations and dam attributes. Efforts to map dams have revealed notable limitations in available databases.
Data validation is described for specific Michigan watersheds.
Data are adequate to provide statistical descriptions and describe geographical patterns, but must be viewed with caution at the level of the individual dam location. We describe a GIS product, including mapped gages with hydrologic information, dams with attributes, and biological information, to facilitate the transfer of information to local governments and watershed organizations.