French Farm Lake Dam dam
French Farm Lake Dam
French Farm Lake Dam, located in Carp Lake, Michigan, is a state-owned structure built in 1949 primarily for recreational purposes. The dam, standing at a height of 8 feet with a hydraulic height of 7 feet, impounds French Farm Creek to create French Farm Lake. With a storage capacity of 2720 acre-feet and a surface area of 800 acres, the dam provides opportunities for water-based activities in a picturesque natural setting.
The controlled spillway with a width of 30 feet ensures safe water release during high flows, while the dam's low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment indicate its overall stability and safety. The risk assessment for French Farm Lake Dam is rated as very high (1), prompting the need for ongoing risk management measures to safeguard the surrounding community and environment. Regular inspections, last conducted in 2016, help to monitor the dam's performance and identify any necessary maintenance or improvements to ensure its continued reliability.
Overall, French Farm Lake Dam serves as a vital water resource for the region, offering both recreational opportunities and important flood control benefits. As a regulated and inspected structure, it exemplifies responsible dam management practices and underscores the importance of maintaining infrastructure to mitigate potential risks and protect the surrounding area from water-related hazards.
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 French Farm Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sturgeon River At Wolverine | 320 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Garnet | 33 cfs | → |
| Pigeon R At Sturgeon Valley Rd Near Vanderbilt | 95 cfs | → |
| Jordan River Near East Jordan | 215 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near French Farm Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- French Lake Road Wawatam Township
- Paradise Trail Carp Lake Township
- Wilderness Park Drive 482, Bliss Township
- Koepke Road Mckinley Township
- Brandau Road 9199, Munro Township
- Stockbridge Street Saint Ignace
Campgrounds
- Cecil Lakeview City Park
- O'Neal Lake Back Country Campsite
- Wilderness State Park
- Wilderness State Park Campground
- Straits State Park
- Maple Bay State Forest Campground
Fishing spots
Track French Farm Lake 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 French Farm Lake Dam
Where does the data for French Farm Lake 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 French Farm Lake Dam.