It was built by the Detroit Edison Company in 1920 for hydroelectricity before being decommissioned in 1959 and sold to the city of Ann Arbor in 1963.

The Argo Dam is located in north-central Ann Arbor about 0.75 miles (1.21 km) south of M-14 (Bus.

The Argo Dam is approximately 50.5 miles (81.3 km) from the Huron River mouth at Lake Erie.

[1] When the dam was completed, the resulting flooding created an unnamed reservoir of 96 acres (39 ha).

[1] The reservoir extends for about 2.46 miles (3.96 km) upstream from the dam to U.S. Route 23, and it has a maximum width of only 700 feet (213.4 m).

The dam was rebuilt entirely in 1972 and utilized to maintain water level in the reservoir and for flood control.

[6] In 2008, a plan was initially conceived by the city of Ann Arbor to possibly recommission the Argo Dam and Geddes Dam in order to provide additional electric power to the nearby Ann Arbor VA Medical Center.

[8] In order to recommission the Argo Dam for hydroelectric purposes, a new powerhouse would also have to be constructed with limited space available due to development of the area.

[11] Opponents of the dam's removal cite that lowering the water level would not immediately be useful, and there are no cost or time estimates on how long it would take to convert the mud basin into usable land.

[12] In 2010, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources gave permission for the city to keep the dam in place and allow for additional funding to improve the surrounding landscape.

The city of Ann Arbor owns the Argo Pond Livery for kayak and canoe rentals.

Common fish caught today within this area include channel catfish, bluegill, small and largemouth bass, black crappie, northern pike, and walleye.

[20] The Huron River is occasionally issued a "Do Not Eat" fish advisory by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services when the waters accumulate high levels of cyanobacteria and perfluorooctanesulfonatecan (PFOS).

[21] When the advisory is in place, fishermen are advised to catch and release only, and warning signs are posted at river access points.