Sunset Lake Dam dam
Sunset Lake Dam
Sunset Lake Dam, also known as Lee Paper Company Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Vicksburg, Michigan, along Gourdneck Creek. Built in 1850, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 11.06 feet and serves primarily for recreational purposes, with a normal storage capacity of 320 acre-feet. Its controlled spillway, with a width of 10 feet, helps manage a maximum discharge of 729 cubic feet per second. The dam's hazard potential is categorized as high, yet its condition assessment as of July 2020 was deemed satisfactory.
Managed by the Michigan Department of Great Lakes, Energy, and Environment (DEGLE), Sunset Lake Dam undergoes regular inspections and enforcement to ensure its operational safety and compliance with state regulations. The dam's risk assessment is classified as very high, prompting the need for effective risk management measures. Despite its age, Sunset Lake Dam continues to provide a recreational oasis for the local community, offering a scenic 97-acre surface area for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. As climate change impacts water resources and infrastructure, the resilience and maintenance of dams like Sunset Lake Dam are increasingly vital in safeguarding both the environment and public safety.
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 Sunset Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Fork Portage Creek At Kalamazoo | 14 cfs | → |
| West Fork Portage Creek Near Oshtemo | 10 cfs | → |
| Portage Creek At Kalamazoo | 55 cfs | → |
| Kalamazoo River At Comstock | 939 cfs | → |
| St. Joseph River At Three Rivers | 1,570 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Nottawa | 109 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sunset Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lillian Court 216, Charter Township Of Comstock
- Charter Township Of Comstock
- Plaza Avenue Charter Township Of Comstock
- Jefferson Street Three Rivers
- East Michigan Avenue 188, Galesburg
- Riverwalk Trail Three Rivers
Campgrounds
- Camp Rota-Kiwan
- Improved Campground
- Cold Brook County Park
- Nottawa Park
- Markin Glen County Park
- Fort Custer State Rec Area
Fishing spots
Track Sunset Lake 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 Sunset Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sunset Lake 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 Sunset Lake Dam.