Rice Creek Dam dam
Rice Creek Dam
Rice Creek Dam, also known as White Mills Dam, is a local government-owned structure located in Marshall, Michigan. Built in 1835, this earth dam stands at a height of 12 feet and spans 500 feet in length. Its primary purpose is for recreation, offering a surface area of 8 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 50 acre-feet.
Despite being not rated for its condition, Rice Creek Dam is considered to have a low hazard potential with a moderate risk assessment score of 3. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 101 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 1330 cubic feet per second. While it has not undergone recent inspections since 1994, the structure's risk management measures and emergency action plan status remain unknown.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Rice Creek Dam presents an interesting case study in historic dam infrastructure in Michigan. Its location along Rice Creek contributes to the local recreational opportunities while also raising questions about the need for updated inspections and risk management practices to ensure the safety and resilience of the structure in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Rice Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo River At Marshall | 499 cfs | → |
| Kalamazoo River Near Marengo | 278 cfs | → |
| Battle Creek At Battle Creek | 194 cfs | → |
| Wanadoga Creek Near Battle Creek | 31 cfs | → |
| St. Joseph River At Burlington | 237 cfs | → |
| Kalamazoo River Near Battle Creek | 725 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rice Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Marshall Township
- South Wattles Road Emmett Charter Township
- Waterman Street Homer
- East Capital Avenue 398, Bellevue
- Leroy Township
- Latimer Lane 241, Battle Creek
Campgrounds
- Potawatomi Rec Area
- Swains Lake
- Angel Cove
- Wildwood Acres Campground
- Eaton County Fairgrounds
- Cold Brook County Park
Track Rice 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 Rice Creek Dam
Where does the data for Rice 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 Rice Creek Dam.