Hamilton Dam dam
Hamilton Dam
Hamilton Dam, located on the Flint River in Flint, Michigan, serves as a critical water supply structure for the region. Built in 1920, this gravity dam stands at 22 feet tall and stretches 274 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 185 acre-feet and a drainage area of 749 square miles, the dam plays a key role in regulating water flow and ensuring water availability for the surrounding communities.
Despite its age, Hamilton Dam has been maintained in fair condition, with a high hazard potential due to its location and design. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 198 feet, capable of handling a maximum discharge of 25,000 cubic feet per second. While the dam has undergone inspections and meets regulatory requirements, there is a need for ongoing risk management measures to address the very high risk associated with the structure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Hamilton Dam represents a historic piece of infrastructure that continues to play a vital role in water supply management. As the region faces challenges related to climate change and changing water patterns, the importance of maintaining and updating structures like Hamilton Dam becomes increasingly evident. With proper risk assessment and management strategies in place, the dam can continue to serve its purpose effectively while safeguarding the surrounding communities from potential hazards.
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 Hamilton Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flint River Near Flint | 488 cfs | → |
| Kearsley Creek Near Davison | 39 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Otisville | 275 cfs | → |
| Farmers Creek Near Lapeer | 27 cfs | → |
| South Branch Flint River Near Columbiaville | 159 cfs | → |
| Cass River At Frankenmuth | 292 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hamilton Dam.
Boat launches
- Blue Gill Boat Launch
- Mott Lake -E, 650 Acres, Genesee County
- Holloway Reservoir, 2000 Acres, Lapeer County
- Lake Fenton, 845 Acres, Genesee County
- Buell Lake, Genesee County
- Lake Ponemah, Genesee County
Campgrounds
- Wolverine
- Seven Lakes State Park
- Group Camping Area 2
- Group Camping Area 1
- Group Camping Area 3
- Group Camping Area 4
Fishing spots
Track Hamilton 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 Hamilton Dam
Where does the data for Hamilton 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 Hamilton Dam.