Little Wolf Creek Dam dam
Little Wolf Creek Dam
Nestled in the picturesque town of Curran, Michigan, the Little Wolf Creek Dam stands as a testament to human ingenuity and environmental stewardship. Completed in 1948, this earth and gravity dam serves as a vital recreational resource for the community, offering a tranquil oasis for water enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. With a height of 14 feet and a length of 300 feet, the dam holds a storage capacity of 540 acre-feet, ensuring a sustainable water supply for the surrounding area.
Managed by a private owner and regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), the Little Wolf Creek Dam is subject to regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety. With a low hazard potential and a fair condition assessment as of October 2020, the dam continues to provide essential flood control and water management services for the region. Despite its age, the dam remains a vital piece of infrastructure, reflecting the harmonious balance between human development and environmental conservation.
As climate change poses new challenges to water resources, the Little Wolf Creek Dam serves as a valuable example of responsible dam management and environmental protection. With its controlled spillway, ample storage capacity, and low risk assessment, the dam stands as a beacon of sustainability in an ever-changing world. As enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience, we can look to the Little Wolf Creek Dam as a model for effective dam operations and environmental stewardship in the face of a changing climate.
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 Little Wolf Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Au Sable River Near Mc Kinley | 1,750 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Curtisville | 1,650 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River At Mio | 1,330 cfs | → |
| Thunder Bay River At Herron Road Near Bolton | 694 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Red Oak | 1,370 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Au Sable | 1,800 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Wolf Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Mccollum Lake Road Clinton Township
- Federal Route 4001 Mitchell Township
- North Skeel Road Millen Township
- Evans Road Mentor Township
- Lost Lake Trail Lost Lake Woods
- Reber Road Comins Township
Campgrounds
- Mccollum Lake State Forest Campground
- Jewell Lake Campground
- Gabions Campground
- Gabions Campground And Day Use
- Bear Island Primitive Campsite
- Horseshoe Lake Campground And Boat Launch
Fishing spots
Track Little Wolf Creek 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 Little Wolf Creek Dam
Where does the data for Little Wolf Creek 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 Little Wolf Creek Dam.