Ford Dam dam
Ford Dam
Ford Dam, also known as Plumbago Dam, is a private earth dam located in Baraga, Michigan, along Plumbago Creek. Completed in 1936, this dam is primarily used for recreational purposes and stands at a height of 26 feet with a length of 500 feet. It has a storage capacity of 1,500 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 340 acre-feet, serving as a vital resource for water management in the area.
Managed and regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), Ford Dam poses a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in November 2018. With an uncontrolled spillway and a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam has emergency action plans in place to ensure public safety in case of any unforeseen events.
Despite its age, Ford Dam remains a key landmark in the region, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water-related activities. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and upkeep of dams like Ford Dam become even more crucial to ensure their resilience and efficient operation for future generations of water resource and climate enthusiasts.
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 Ford Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sturgeon River Near Sidnaw | 167 cfs | → |
| Sturgeon River Near Alston | 491 cfs | → |
| Silver River Near L'Anse | 61 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Escanaba River At Humboldt | 71 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Ontonagon River Near Paulding | 170 cfs | → |
| Ontonagon River Near Rockland | 840 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ford Dam.
Boat launches
- Parent Lake Road Covington Township
- Vermilac Lake Road Covington Township
- Us 41 Baraga
- King Lake Covington Township
- State Avenue Baraga
- Indian Road L'Anse Township
Campgrounds
- Big Lake State Forest
- Big Lake State Forest Campground
- Baraga State Park
- King Lake - Copper County State Forest
- King Lake State Forest Campground
- Sturgeon River
Fishing spots
- Alberta Pond
- Prickett Reservoir
- Otter Lake
- Lake Gerald (Twin Lakes)
- Lake Roland (Twin Lakes)
- Rockland Pond
Paddle runs
- From Wagner Lake In Sec 13, T49n, R31w To Eastern Boundary Of The Ottawa Nf In Sec 12, T48n, R35@
- West Branch Net River, From Its Source In Sec 35, T48n, R34w To Confluence With Mainstem Net River In Sec 24, T46n, R34w
- East Branch Net River, From Its Source In Sec 8, T47n, R32w To Confluence With Mainstem Net River In Sec 24, T46n, R34w
- Net River Mainstem, Confluence With East/West Branches To Confluence With The Mainstem Paint River
- Mainstem, Easternforest Boundary In Sec 1, T44n, R35w To City Of Crystal Falls
- South Branch,Confluence Of Cisco Branch And Tenmile Creek To Confluence With West Branch
Track Ford 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 Ford Dam
Where does the data for Ford 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 Ford Dam.