Mckays Dam dam
Mckays Dam
Mckays Dam, located in Clare, Michigan, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1940 for recreational purposes along the Loon Lake Creek. With a height of 13 feet and a length of 375 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 600 acre-feet and a surface area of 96 acres, serving as a popular spot for outdoor activities in the area. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2018 indicated poor maintenance, highlighting the need for ongoing inspection and potential risk management measures to ensure its safety and longevity.
Managed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), Mckays Dam is subject to state regulations, inspections, and enforcement to uphold safety standards. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 5 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 160 cubic feet per second. Although the dam's risk assessment is classified as "Very High (1)", there are currently no specific risk management measures or emergency action plans in place, indicating a potential area of improvement for the dam's long-term maintenance and safety protocols. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate in the Clare area may find Mckays Dam a fascinating case study for the intersection of recreational infrastructure and environmental stewardship in the region.
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 Mckays Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Branch Tobacco River Near Beaverton | 125 cfs | → |
| Tobacco River At Glidden Road At Beaverton | 370 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Mount Pleasant | 277 cfs | → |
| Muskegon River At Evart | 1,740 cfs | → |
| Clam River At Vogel Center | 263 cfs | → |
| Pine River Near Midland | 368 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mckays Dam.
Boat launches
- Lone Pine Road 2708, Grant Township
- Washington Road 4863, Grant Township
- Lincoln Township
- Boat Launch (Concrete, Public) Harrison
- West Spring Road 7199, Freeman Township
- Trails End Road 8817, Garfield Township
Campgrounds
- Pettit Park
- Herrick Rec Area
- Wilson State Park
- Big Mud Lake - State Forest
- Mud Lake State Forest Campground
- Sulak
Fishing spots
Track Mckays 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 Mckays Dam
Where does the data for Mckays 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 Mckays Dam.