Liberty Dam dam
Liberty Dam
Liberty Dam, located in Jackson, Michigan, along the Grand River, stands as a historic structure completed in 1848 primarily for recreational purposes. This Earth dam, standing at 11 feet in height and spanning 130 feet in length, offers a serene setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore. With a storage capacity of 72 acre-feet and a surface area of 11.2 acres, the dam provides a picturesque backdrop for outdoor activities.
Despite its age and historical significance, Liberty Dam's condition assessment has been deemed unsatisfactory, with a significant hazard potential. The dam's last inspection in November 2018 revealed the need for maintenance and improvements to ensure the safety of nearby communities. With a very high risk rating and a controlled spillway width of 18 feet, it is essential for regulatory agencies like the Michigan DEGLE to enforce inspections and carry out necessary risk management measures to mitigate potential hazards.
As a private-owned structure regulated by the state of Michigan, Liberty Dam serves as a vital recreational site within the region. Its location in the city of Liberty offers a peaceful retreat for visitors to enjoy nature and engage in water-related activities. However, with the dam's risk assessment rating in mind, ongoing efforts must be made to address its structural concerns and ensure the safety of both the dam and the surrounding environment for future generations of water resource and climate enthusiasts to continue to appreciate its beauty and historical significance.
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 Liberty Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Grand River At Jackson | 86 cfs | → |
| River Raisin Near Manchester | 17 cfs | → |
| South Branch Hog Creek Near Allen | 40 cfs | → |
| River Raisin Near Adrian | 274 cfs | → |
| Kalamazoo River Near Marengo | 278 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Dexter | 46 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Liberty Dam.
Boat launches
- Round Lake Road 1208, Liberty Township
- Steves Scenic Drive Liberty Township
- Avenue C Street 300, Vandercook Lake
- Deep Lake Road Cambridge Township
- Lime Lake Park Township Of Spring Arbor
- Falling Waters Trail Township Of Spring Arbor
Campgrounds
- Swains Lake
- W. J. Hayes State Park
- Wildwood Acres Campground
- Portage Lake - Waterloo State Rec Area
- Youth Haven Ranch
- Lake Hudson State Rec Area
Track Liberty 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 Liberty Dam
Where does the data for Liberty 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 Liberty Dam.