Russell Dam dam
Russell Dam
Russell Dam, located in Gladwin, Michigan, is a private-owned structure built in 1950 primarily for recreational purposes. The dam, standing at 17 feet high and 325 feet long, creates a reservoir with a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet and a surface area of 4 acres. The dam is situated on a tributary to Sugar River and is under the jurisdiction of the Detroit District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Russell Dam has not been rated for its condition. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 2 feet and has not been modified since its completion. The last inspection was recorded in 1901, with an inspection frequency of 5 years. Emergency action plans and risk management measures for the dam have not been reported.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Russell Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned earth dam designed for recreational purposes. While the dam's risk assessment is moderate, the lack of recent inspections and emergency preparedness raises concerns about its safety and resilience. Further monitoring and assessment of Russell Dam's condition and risk management strategies may be needed to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment 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 Russell Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tobacco River At Glidden Road At Beaverton | 297 cfs | → |
| South Branch Tobacco River Near Beaverton | 116 cfs | → |
| Rifle River Near Sterling | 337 cfs | → |
| Clam River At Vogel Center | 259 cfs | → |
| South Branch Au Sable River Near Luzerne | 374 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Mount Pleasant | 286 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Russell Dam.
Boat launches
- Norway Street Hay Township
- Lakewood Street Hayes Township
- Boat Launch (Concrete, Public) Harrison
- Section 23 Grim Township Road Grim Township
- East Greenwood Road Mills Township
- Houghton Lake -Sw, 20044 Acres, Roscommon County
Campgrounds
- Trout Lake State Forest Campground
- House Lake State Forest Campground
- Gladwin City Park
- Wilson State Park
- Calhoun City Campground
- Cole Family Camp
Track Russell 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 Russell Dam
Where does the data for Russell 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 Russell Dam.