Hancock Creek Dam dam
Hancock Creek Dam
Hancock Creek Dam, located in Loretto, Michigan, is a state-regulated earth dam completed in 1951 for recreational purposes along Hancock Creek. Standing at a height of 12 feet with a hydraulic height of 11 feet, the dam has a length of 338 feet and a storage capacity of 530 acre-feet. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled with a width of 21 feet, and it has a low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment.
Managed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Hancock Creek Dam is inspected every five years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam serves as a recreational resource for the surrounding area, offering activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. With a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam is monitored for any potential risks or hazards that may arise.
In the event of an emergency, the dam is equipped with emergency action plans to guide responses and mitigate risks. The risk management measures are in place to maintain the safety and functionality of the dam for both recreational use and environmental protection. As a key feature along Hancock Creek, the dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and providing opportunities for outdoor recreation 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 Hancock Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Menominee River Near Vulcan | 3,370 cfs | → |
| Menominee River At Niagara | 2,950 cfs | → |
| Menominee River At Twin Falls Near Iron Mt | 3,420 cfs | → |
| Menominee River Near Florence | 2,130 cfs | → |
| Brule River Near Commonwealth | 777 cfs | → |
| Pine River Below Pine R Powerplant Nr Florence | 452 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hancock Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Fordville Road Breen Township
- Burgens Backwater Road Waucedah Township
- Rock Lake Boating Access Site Norway Township
- Carney Lake Road Norway Township
- Six Mile Lake Road Felch Township
- Sm 5 Norway Township
Campgrounds
- Gene's Pond State Forest Campground
- Summer Breeze Campground
- River Bends Campground
- West Branch State Forest Campground
- Silver Lake Resort
- Anderson Lake West State Forest Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Mainstem, Easternforest Boundary In Sec 1, T44n, R35w To City Of Crystal Falls
- Brule Lake In Ne1/4 Sec 15, T41n, R13e To Forest Boundary In Se1/4 Sec 31, T41n, R17e
- Forest Road 2156 To Eastern Forest Boundary
- Forest Road 2398 To Eastern Forest Boundary
- Forest Road 2133 To Forest Road 2156
- South Branch--Origin In Sec 25, T38n, R14e To Confluence With Main Branch
Track Hancock 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 Hancock Creek Dam
Where does the data for Hancock 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 Hancock Creek Dam.