Alverno dam
Alverno
Alverno, located in Cheboygan, Michigan, is a hydroelectric dam on the Black River with a rich history dating back to its completion in 1902. This earth, rockfill, and timber crib dam stands at 19 feet high and spans 450 feet, providing essential water storage of 105,034 acre-feet and serving multiple purposes including fish and wildlife pond creation, recreation, and hydroelectric power generation. The dam's normal storage capacity is 49,496 acre-feet, supporting a surface area of 10,233 acres and draining a watershed area of 621 square miles.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Alverno has a low hazard potential and is actively regulated, inspected, and maintained to ensure safety and operational efficiency. Equipped with a Tainter (radial) outlet gate, the dam provides controlled water release with a maximum discharge capacity of 4,270 cubic feet per second. Despite limited information on its condition assessment, Alverno has an emergency action plan in place and meets regulatory guidelines, ensuring preparedness for any unforeseen events. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will appreciate Alverno's contribution to sustainable energy production and environmental conservation efforts in the region.
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 Alverno -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sturgeon River At Wolverine | 315 cfs | → |
| Pigeon R At Sturgeon Valley Rd Near Vanderbilt | 113 cfs | → |
| Jordan River Near East Jordan | 221 cfs | → |
| Thunder Bay River At Herron Road Near Bolton | 652 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Alverno .
Boat launches
- Long Lake Boat Ramp Aloha Township
- Carter Road Benton Township
- Number 37 Road Inverness Township
- The Forks Boat Ramp
- East Lincoln Avenue 101, Cheboygan
- East Elm Street Cheboygan
Campgrounds
- Aloha State Park
- Twin Lakes - State Forest
- Twin Lakes State Forst Campground
- Cheboygan State Park
- Black Lake Trail Camp - Mackinaw State Forest
- Black Lake State Forest Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Alverno 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 Alverno
Where does the data for Alverno 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 Alverno .