Monarch Paper Mill Dam dam
Monarch Paper Mill Dam
The Monarch Paper Mill Dam, located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is a crucial water supply structure on Portage Creek, completed in 1916 with a primary purpose of water supply. This private-owned Earth dam stands at 20 feet high and 125 feet long, with a storage capacity of 160 acre-feet and a normal storage of 81 acre-feet. The dam has a controlled spillway type with a width of 25 feet and a maximum discharge of 3600 cubic feet per second.
Despite its fair condition assessment in 2013, the Monarch Paper Mill Dam poses a low hazard potential, but its risk assessment remains very high. The dam is under the regulatory jurisdiction of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. The dam is situated in a picturesque location, offering a surface area of 16.7 acres and serving as a vital component of the local water infrastructure.
With its rich history dating back over a century, the Monarch Paper Mill Dam stands as a testament to early water resource management in Michigan. As climate change continues to impact water resources, this dam serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring critical infrastructure to ensure the safety and sustainability of water supplies in the region.
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 Monarch Paper Mill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Portage Creek At Kalamazoo | 51 cfs | → |
| West Fork Portage Creek At Kalamazoo | 12 cfs | → |
| Kalamazoo River At Comstock | 1,010 cfs | → |
| West Fork Portage Creek Near Oshtemo | 8 cfs | → |
| Augusta Creek Near Augusta | 39 cfs | → |
| Kalamazoo River Near Battle Creek | 675 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Monarch Paper Mill Dam.
Boat launches
- Lillian Court 216, Charter Township Of Comstock
- Plaza Avenue Charter Township Of Comstock
- Charter Township Of Comstock
- East Michigan Avenue 188, Galesburg
- East M N Avenue Charleston Township
- Charleston Township
Track Monarch Paper Mill 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 Monarch Paper Mill Dam
Where does the data for Monarch Paper Mill 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 Monarch Paper Mill Dam.