Avery Lake Dam dam
Avery Lake Dam
Avery Lake Dam, located in Crooked Lake, Michigan, is a privately owned structure primarily used for recreation purposes. Built in 1970, this earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet and spans 200 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a maximum storage capacity of 2420 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Crooked Creek and is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), ensuring that it meets state permitting, inspection, and enforcement standards.
With a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of September 2018, Avery Lake Dam poses minimal risk to the surrounding area. Despite its relatively low hazard potential, the dam is classified as having a very high risk due to its location and potential impact in the event of a failure. Regular inspections are conducted, with the next one scheduled for 2023, to ensure the dam's continued safety and functionality. Overall, Avery Lake Dam serves as an important recreational resource in Montmorency County, Michigan, providing opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water-based activities for locals and visitors alike.
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 Avery Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Au Sable River Near Red Oak | 1,410 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River At Mio | 1,320 cfs | → |
| Pigeon R At Sturgeon Valley Rd Near Vanderbilt | 135 cfs | → |
| South Branch Au Sable River Near Luzerne | 329 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Mc Kinley | 1,680 cfs | → |
| Thunder Bay River At Herron Road Near Bolton | 764 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Avery Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Balsam Road 6998, Charlton Township
- Reber Road Comins Township
- Pettijohn Road Montmorency Township
- Iafrate Drive Montmorency Township
- Clear Lake State Park Boating Access Site Montmorency Township
- Grass Lake Road Montmorency Township
Campgrounds
- Avery Lake State Forest Campground
- Little Wolf Lake State Forest Campground
- Big Bear Lake State Forest Campground
- Jackson Lake State Forest Campground
- Muskrat Lake Campground
- Town Corner Lake State Forest Campground
Fishing spots
Track Avery Lake 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 Avery Lake Dam
Where does the data for Avery Lake 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 Avery Lake Dam.