Lower Crystal Lake Dam dam
Lower Crystal Lake Dam
The Lower Crystal Lake Dam, located in Orangeville, Michigan, is a privately-owned structure regulated by the Michigan DEGLE. Built in 1970, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and has a length of 1235 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 660 acre-feet. The primary purpose of this dam is for recreation, offering a surface area of 40 acres for various water activities.
Tamarack Creek flows through this area, and the dam's spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 5 feet. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, the dam has a moderate risk rating of 3. Regular inspections are conducted every 5 years, with the last assessment taking place in November 2018. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) was last revised in August 2015, ensuring that appropriate measures are in place in case of an emergency.
Overall, the Lower Crystal Lake Dam serves as both a recreational site and a vital structure for water resource management in Barry County, Michigan. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will appreciate the engineering and regulatory details that contribute to the safety and functionality of this important dam.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Lower Crystal Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rabbit River Near Hopkins | 47 cfs | → |
| Augusta Creek Near Augusta | 41 cfs | → |
| Thornapple River Near Hastings | 269 cfs | → |
| Kalamazoo River At Comstock | 1,020 cfs | → |
| Portage Creek At Kalamazoo | 51 cfs | → |
| Quaker Brook Near Nashville | 21 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Crystal Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Prairieville Township Center Street Lake Access
- Patterson Road 2373, Martin Township
- Leach Lake Road Carlton Township
- Charleston Township
- Green Lake Boat Launch
- Green Trail Charleston Township
Campgrounds
- Camp Merrie Wood
- Gun Lake - Yankee Springs State Rec Area
- Deep Lake - Yankee Springs State Rec Area
- Yankee Springs Deep Lake-Rustic
- Brookside City Park
- Winding Creek Campground
Fishing spots
Track Lower Crystal Lake Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Lower Crystal Lake Dam
Where does the data for Lower Crystal Lake Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Lower Crystal Lake Dam.