Cooke dam
Cooke
Cooke is a historic hydroelectric dam located on the scenic Au Sable River in Oscoda, Michigan. Built in 1912, this gravity dam stands at a height of 50 feet and has a structural height of 46 feet, with a capacity to store 30,000 acre-feet of water. The dam serves multiple purposes, including hydroelectric power generation and recreation, making it a vital resource for the local community.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Cooke Dam has a controlled spillway width of 72 feet and can discharge up to 20,948 cubic feet per second. With a hazard potential rated as high and a very high risk assessment, the dam's safety and maintenance are closely monitored. Despite its age, Cooke Dam continues to play a significant role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
As a public utility, Cooke Dam not only provides clean energy but also offers recreational opportunities for visitors to enjoy the surrounding area. Its location within the Buffalo District and the stewardship of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ensure that the dam's operations meet strict regulatory standards. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Cooke Dam stands as a testament to sustainable hydroelectric power generation and the importance of maintaining critical infrastructure in the face of changing environmental 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 Cooke -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Au Sable River Near Au Sable | 1,800 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Curtisville | 1,650 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Mc Kinley | 1,750 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River At Mio | 1,330 cfs | → |
| Rifle River Near Sterling | 367 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Red Oak | 1,370 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cooke .
Boat launches
- Sawmill Point Boat Launch
- Pine Acres Boat Launch
- Thompson's Landing River Access
- North Skeel Road Millen Township
- Federal Route 4001 Mitchell Township
- Sherman Street Lincoln
Fishing spots
- Cooke Dam Pond
- Foote Dam (Au Sable River)
- Sprinkler Lake Access Site
- Whirlpool Angler Access
- Londo Lake
- O'Brien Lake Access
More reservoirs
Track Cooke 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 Cooke
Where does the data for Cooke 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 High 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 Cooke .