Elsie Dam dam
Elsie Dam
Elsie Dam, located in Bannister, Michigan, is a concrete structure built in 1840 on the Maple River. The dam stands at a height of 12.7 meters and serves primarily for recreational purposes. With a normal storage capacity of 60 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 2455 cubic feet per second, the dam covers a surface area of 32 acres and is part of a drainage area spanning 191.5 square kilometers.
Despite its low hazard potential, Elsie Dam has been assessed as unsatisfactory in terms of its condition, with the last inspection conducted in October 2017. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 130 feet and has not undergone significant modifications in recent years. Its risk assessment is classified as moderate, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to ensure the safety and stability of the structure.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Elsie Dam an intriguing site to study, given its historical significance, design characteristics, and the environmental impact it has on the Maple River ecosystem. As one of Michigan's regulated dams, Elsie Dam serves as a valuable resource for understanding the intersection of water management, recreational activities, and infrastructure maintenance in the context of changing climate patterns and hydrological dynamics.
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 Elsie Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shiawassee River At Owosso | 340 cfs | → |
| Maple River At Maple Rapids | 219 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Lansing | 1,020 cfs | → |
| Red Cedar River At East Lansing | 178 cfs | → |
| Looking Glass River Near Eagle | 201 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Fosters | 330 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Elsie Dam.
Track Elsie 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 Elsie Dam
Where does the data for Elsie 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 Elsie Dam.