Houghton Lake Flats North Unit Dam dam
Houghton Lake Flats North Unit Dam
The Houghton Lake Flats North Unit Dam, located in Roscommon, Michigan, is a state-regulated earth dam completed in 1967 for the primary purpose of recreation. Situated on a tributary to Houghton Lake, this dam has a height of 9 feet and a hydraulic height of 6.4 feet, with a length of 300 feet and a storage capacity of 2000 acre-feet. With a surface area of 400 acres and a drainage area of 0.6 square miles, the dam serves as a vital resource for water management and flood control in the region.
Managed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the Houghton Lake Flats North Unit Dam has a low hazard potential and is currently in satisfactory condition, as per the last inspection conducted in June 2013. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 10 feet and has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3. While there are no associated structures or outlet gates, the dam provides essential recreational opportunities and contributes to the overall environmental and hydrological balance of the area.
With its strategic location and significant role in water resource management, the Houghton Lake Flats North Unit Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable infrastructure for climate resilience. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, dams like this play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem health and mitigating potential risks. Through regular inspections and risk assessments, the dam ensures the safety of surrounding communities and reinforces the vital connection between water resources and climate adaptation strategies.
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 Houghton Lake Flats North Unit Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clam River At Vogel Center | 259 cfs | → |
| South Branch Au Sable River Near Luzerne | 374 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Red Oak | 1,920 cfs | → |
| Boardman R Above Brown Bridge Road Nr Mayfield | 407 cfs | → |
| South Branch Tobacco River Near Beaverton | 116 cfs | → |
| Tobacco River At Glidden Road At Beaverton | 297 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Houghton Lake Flats North Unit Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Township
- Houghton Lake -Sw, 20044 Acres, Roscommon County
- Reedsburg Dam State Forest Campground
- East Houghton Lake Road 10191, Butterfield Township
- South Dyer Lake Drive 8089, Clam Union Township
- Chase Bridge Road 10199, South Branch Township
Campgrounds
- Houghton Lake State Forest Campground
- Reedsburg Dam State Forest Campground
- North Higgins Lake State Park West Campground
- North Higgins Lake State Park East Campground
- Dyer Lake - State Forest
- 4-Mile Trail Camp
Track Houghton Lake Flats North Unit 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 Houghton Lake Flats North Unit Dam
Where does the data for Houghton Lake Flats North Unit 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 Houghton Lake Flats North Unit Dam.