Bissell Pond Dam dam
Bissell Pond Dam
Bissell Pond Dam, also known as Millbrook Dam, is a private dam located in Williamsburg, Michigan, along the Williamsburg Creek. Built in 1852, this earth and gravity dam stands at a height of 16 feet and stretches 120 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet. The primary purpose of the dam is for recreation, offering a serene surface area of 10 acres for water enthusiasts to enjoy.
Despite its historical significance and recreational value, Bissell Pond Dam poses a significant hazard potential, with a very high risk assessment rating of 1. However, inspections as recent as November 2018 have deemed its condition as satisfactory. The dam is regulated and permitted by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), ensuring that it undergoes regular inspections and enforcement measures to maintain safety standards.
With its picturesque location and rich history, Bissell Pond Dam serves as a vital water resource for the community while also highlighting the importance of proper risk management in ensuring the safety and sustainability of such structures in the face of changing climate 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 Bissell Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Boardman R Above Brown Bridge Road Nr Mayfield | 207 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Sherman | 1,630 cfs | → |
| Jordan River Near East Jordan | 216 cfs | → |
| Platte River At Honor | 163 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Mesick | 1,590 cfs | → |
| Clam River At Vogel Center | 238 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bissell Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Michigan, Traverse City 4 Mile Rd, Grand Traverse County
- Elk Lake Boat Ramp Milton Township
- Grand Traverse Bay Public Water Access Site Peninsula Township
- Tacs Dock Traverse City
- Lake Michigan, Bowers Harbor, Grand Traverse County
- Cedar Lake Boat Ramp Greilickville
Campgrounds
- Whitewater Township Park
- Guernsey Lake State Forest Campground
- Guernsey Lake - State Forest
- Forks - State Forest
- Traverse City State Park Campground
- Traverse City State Park
Fishing spots
- East Arm Grand Traverse Bay
- Elk River
- Boardman River
- Boardman Lake
- Kids Creek
- West Arm Grand Traverse Bay
Paddle runs
- Southeastern Boundary Of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore To Northwetern Boundary Of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
- Southern Boundary Of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore To Mouth At Lake Michigan
- Kings Road Bridge (2 Miles West Of Town Of Luther In T19n, R12w To Slackwater Of The State Fish Weir In T21n, R16w
More reservoirs
Track Bissell Pond 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 Bissell Pond Dam
Where does the data for Bissell Pond 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 Significant 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 Bissell Pond Dam.