Hamilton Marsh Dam dam
Hamilton Marsh Dam
Hamilton Marsh Dam, located in Delta, Michigan, on McDonald Creek, is a vital water resource managed by the Hiawatha National Forest. Constructed in 1966, this Federal-owned Earth dam serves the primary purpose of supporting fish and wildlife habitats, with a storage capacity of 108 acre-feet and a surface area of 36 acres. The dam stands at a height of 9 feet and has a hydraulic height of 6 feet, with a spillway width of 12 feet for uncontrolled discharge.
Managed by the USDA Forest Service, the Hamilton Marsh Dam has a low hazard potential and is inspected every 10 years, with the last assessment conducted in November 2020. Despite its age, the dam remains in good condition and poses a moderate risk, with no emergency action plan currently in place. With its crucial role in supporting the local ecosystem, the dam plays a significant role in preserving the natural environment and enhancing the biodiversity of the region. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Hamilton Marsh Dam provides a fascinating example of sustainable water management and conservation efforts in action.
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 Hamilton Marsh Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sturgeon River Near Nahma Junction | 292 cfs | → |
| Au Train River At Forest Lake | 137 cfs | → |
| Escanaba River At Cornell | 1,160 cfs | → |
| Ford River Near Hyde | 411 cfs | → |
| Manistique River Near Manistique | 3,000 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Escanaba River Nr Princeton | 329 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hamilton Marsh Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Dana Lake Road Nahma Township
- 35.5 Road Garden Township
- Fs 2799 Garden Township
- Campground Road Garden Township
- Pinecrest Shores Drive Garden Township
- Red Jack Lake Road Alger County
⛺ Campgrounds
- Haymeadow Creek Campground
- Haymeadow Creek Campsites
- Flowing Well Campground
- Chicago Lake Campsites
- Camp Cook Campsites
- Corner Lake Campground
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- From Sixteen Mile Lake To North Line Of Sec 26, T43n, R19w
- West Branch From Source In Sec 26, T46n, R23 W To Junction With County Road 444
- County Road H-58 (Aka. Adams Trail/ Munising-Van Meer-Shingleton Rd.) To Mouth At Lake Superior
- Section 17, T48n, R17w (Boundary Of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Lands) To Mouth At Lake Superior
Track Hamilton Marsh 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 Hamilton Marsh Dam
Where does the data for Hamilton Marsh 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 Hamilton Marsh Dam.