Howlandsburg Dam dam
Howlandsburg Dam
Located in Howlandsburg, Michigan, the Howlandsburg Dam, also known as the Mill Pond Dam, stands as a historic structure completed in 1837 along the Gull Creek. This private-owned earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a serene and picturesque setting with a surface area of 29 acres and a normal storage capacity of 120 acre-feet. However, with a significant hazard potential and a fair condition assessment, the dam requires regular inspections and maintenance to ensure the safety of the surrounding community.
Despite its age, the Howlandsburg Dam continues to be regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), with state jurisdiction, permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, with a width of 19 feet and a hydraulic height of 16.2 feet. With a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam poses moderate risk (3) to the area, prompting the need for risk management measures to be in place. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the preservation and maintenance of this historic dam are crucial to ensuring the safety of the community and the longevity of the recreational opportunities it provides.
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 Howlandsburg Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta Creek Near Augusta | 37 cfs | → |
| Kalamazoo River At Comstock | 969 cfs | → |
| Portage Creek At Kalamazoo | 51 cfs | → |
| Kalamazoo River Near Battle Creek | 668 cfs | → |
| West Fork Portage Creek At Kalamazoo | 12 cfs | → |
| Battle Creek At Battle Creek | 204 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Howlandsburg Dam.
Boat launches
- Charleston Township
- East Michigan Avenue 188, Galesburg
- Green Trail Charleston Township
- Charter Township Of Comstock
- Plaza Avenue Charter Township Of Comstock
Campgrounds
- Fort Custer State Rec Area
- Improved Campground
- Cold Brook County Park
- Markin Glen County Park
- Camp Merrie Wood
- Camp Rota-Kiwan
Fishing spots
Track Howlandsburg 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 Howlandsburg Dam
Where does the data for Howlandsburg 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 Howlandsburg Dam.