Lake Isabella Dam dam
Lake Isabella Dam
Lake Isabella Dam, located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreation purposes. Built in 1967, this earth dam stands at 41 feet in height and spans a length of 3010 feet, creating a reservoir with a maximum storage capacity of 13,500 acre-feet. The dam overlooks the Chippewa River, with a drainage area of 416 square miles and a surface area of 730 acres.
With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of July 2019, Lake Isabella Dam is regulated and inspected by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 130 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 11,600 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk assessment, there are no associated lock structures or outlet gates present. The dam's Emergency Action Plan was last revised in 2008, and the overall risk management measures and guidelines are yet to be specified.
Situated in Isabella County, Lake Isabella Dam not only provides recreational opportunities for the local community but also plays a crucial role in flood control and water resource management. As a significant component of the region's infrastructure, ongoing monitoring and adherence to safety protocols are essential to ensure the continued integrity and functionality of this vital water resource structure.
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 Lake Isabella Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chippewa River Near Mount Pleasant | 283 cfs | → |
| Muskegon River At Evart | 1,540 cfs | → |
| South Branch Tobacco River Near Beaverton | 116 cfs | → |
| Fish Creek Near Crystal | 30 cfs | → |
| Tobacco River At Glidden Road At Beaverton | 337 cfs | → |
| Pine River Near Midland | 324 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Isabella Dam.
Boat launches
- West Rosebush Road Sherman Township
- Northwest County Line Road Sheridan Township
- Hall Lake Boat Ramp
- West Stevenson Lake Road Gilmore Township
- South Meridian Road 4095, Union Township
- Stevenson Lake Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Coldwater Lake Family Park
- Blanchard Millpond Park
- Tubbs Lake State Forest Campground
- Merrill Lake Park
- School Section Lake Park
- Pettit Park
Fishing spots
Track Lake Isabella 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 Lake Isabella Dam
Where does the data for Lake Isabella 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 Lake Isabella Dam.