Five Channels Dam
| Company type | Hydroelectric facility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy |
| Founded | 1911 |
| Founder | Consumers Power Company (now Consumers Energy) |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Michigan |
| Products | Hydroelectric power (6 MW capacity) |
Five Channels Dam is a hydroelectric facility situated on Michigan's Au Sable River.
Background
Construction of the dam was initiated in 1911 by Consumers Power Company, now known as Consumers Energy, and reached completion in 1912. This structure was the second among six dams established by the company along the Au Sable River. Its name derives from a nearby location that historically contained five separate river channels. The dam's power generation capacity is rated at 6 megawatts.
Five Channels Dam worker's camp
In constructing the dam, the company emphasized worker well-being by incorporating safety practices learned from the Panama Canal project. They established a 45-acre residential camp for workers and their families, which included essential amenities such as a centralized water system, sewage infrastructure, an icehouse, educational facilities, washrooms, a store, and lodging accommodations. Employees were provided with plots to build residences, ranging from wooden clapboard homes to tents. Following the completion of construction, the camp structures were either dismantled or moved to the subsequent project site at the Loud Dam. The original location of this worker camp was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 2002 (designated 20ES112, 20IS113–20IS116).