Caro Dam dam
Caro Dam
Caro Dam, also known as Edison Dam, is a gravity dam located in Wahjamega, Michigan along the Cass River. Completed in 1928, this private-owned structure serves primarily for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 19 feet and spanning 240 feet in length, the dam has a storage capacity of 900 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 200 acres.
Managed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), Caro Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, the dam is classified as having a very high risk due to its location and potential impact in case of failure. With a controlled spillway width of 200 feet, Caro Dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 11,000 cubic feet per second.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find Caro Dam intriguing for its historical significance, engineering design, and environmental impact on the Cass River watershed. As a key landmark in Tuscola County, Michigan, this dam offers opportunities for outdoor recreation while highlighting the importance of proper dam management and maintenance in safeguarding water resources and mitigating potential risks in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Caro Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cass River At Frankenmuth | 318 cfs | → |
| South Branch Flint River Near Columbiaville | 167 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Otisville | 298 cfs | → |
| Saginaw River At Saginaw | 0 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Fosters | 330 cfs | → |
| Farmers Creek Near Lapeer | 28 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Caro Dam.
Boat launches
- Columbia Street Caro
- Buell Lake, Genesee County
- Saginaw River (Smith Park), Bay County
- Holloway Reservoir, 2000 Acres, Lapeer County
- Park Road 4865, Bridgeport Charter Township
- Saginaw River Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Arthur Latham Park
- Otter Lake Park
- Evergreen County Park
- Wolverine
- Camper's Haven Family Campground
- Bay City State Park Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Caro 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 Caro Dam
Where does the data for Caro 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 Caro Dam.