Cornwall Creek Dam dam
Cornwall Creek Dam
Cornwall Creek Dam, located in Topinabee, Michigan, is a state-regulated structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 1966, this earthen dam stands at a height of 33 feet and spans a length of 583 feet, creating a reservoir with a maximum storage capacity of 2570 acre-feet. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 17 feet, and it poses a high hazard potential with a poor condition assessment as of September 2019.
Despite its risk assessment of moderate, the Cornwall Creek Dam has not had any modifications or emergency action plan updates since 2019. The inspection frequency is set at every three years, with the last inspection conducted in September 2019. The dam's location within the Cheboygan County in Michigan poses a potential threat to the surrounding area in the event of a failure, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts to ensure the safety and integrity of this crucial water resource structure for both recreational and environmental purposes.
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 Cornwall Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pigeon R At Sturgeon Valley Rd Near Vanderbilt | 110 cfs | → |
| Sturgeon River At Wolverine | 409 cfs | → |
| Jordan River Near East Jordan | 311 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Red Oak | 1,350 cfs | → |
| Thunder Bay River At Herron Road Near Bolton | 463 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River At Mio | 1,290 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cornwall Creek Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Cornwell Grade Road 16407, Nunda Township
- Bear Den Drive Allis Township
- Black River Avenue 6463, Tower
- Dnr Park Road 7399, Wilmot Township
- Dam Road Allis Township
- High Country Pathway Allis Township
⛺ Campgrounds
- Pine Grove State Forest Campground
- Elk Hill Equestrian State Forest Campground
- Pigeon River State Forest Campground
- Pigeon Bridge State Forest Campground
- Pickerel Lake State Forest Campground
- Round Lake State Forest Campground
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →Track Cornwall Creek 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 Cornwall Creek Dam
Where does the data for Cornwall Creek 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 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 Cornwall Creek Dam.