Cataract Hydroelectric dam
Cataract Hydroelectric
The Cataract Hydroelectric plant, located in Gwinn, Michigan, harnesses the power of the Middle Branch Escanaba River to generate hydroelectricity. Built in 1929, this gravity dam stands at 30 feet tall and has a hydraulic height of 14 feet, with a maximum discharge capacity of 3800 cubic feet per second. The dam has a storage capacity of 875 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 180 acres, serving as a vital source of renewable energy for the region.
Managed by a private owner, the Cataract Hydroelectric plant is not regulated by the state but is overseen by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. Despite its age, the plant has not undergone recent inspections, with the last assessment conducted in June 2018. However, an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) was last revised in December 2020, ensuring that appropriate measures are in place for any potential emergencies.
With its historical significance and environmental impact, the Cataract Hydroelectric plant continues to play a crucial role in meeting the energy needs of the local community. As climate change and water resource management become increasingly important topics, this hydroelectric facility stands as a testament to the power of sustainable energy generation through harnessing the natural flow of rivers.
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 Cataract Hydroelectric -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Branch Escanaba River Nr Princeton | 293 cfs | → |
| Schweitzer Creek Near Palmer | 12 cfs | → |
| Greenwood Diversion Near Greenwood | 14 cfs | → |
| Greenwood Release Near Greenwood | 25 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Escanaba River At Humboldt | 54 cfs | → |
| Escanaba River At Cornell | 849 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cataract Hydroelectric .
Boat launches
- West Knudsen Road Forsyth Township
- West Crooked Lake Lane Forsyth Township
- County Road Exa Gwinn
- South Anderson Lake Lane Forsyth Township
- Sporley Lake Road West Branch Township
- Public Access Road Forsyth Township
Campgrounds
- Bass Lake State Forest Campground (Marquette)
- Anderson Lake West State Forest Campground
- Little Lake State Forest Campground
- Private Camp
- Rippling River Resort
- West Branch State Forest Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- West Branch From Source In Sec 26, T46n, R23 W To Junction With County Road 444
- Mainstem, Easternforest Boundary In Sec 1, T44n, R35w To City Of Crystal Falls
- From Sixteen Mile Lake To North Line Of Sec 26, T43n, R19w
- East Branch Net River, From Its Source In Sec 8, T47n, R32w To Confluence With Mainstem Net River In Sec 24, T46n, R34w
- West Branch Net River, From Its Source In Sec 35, T48n, R34w To Confluence With Mainstem Net River In Sec 24, T46n, R34w
- County Road H-58 (Aka. Adams Trail/ Munising-Van Meer-Shingleton Rd.) To Mouth At Lake Superior
Track Cataract Hydroelectric 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 Cataract Hydroelectric
Where does the data for Cataract Hydroelectric 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 Cataract Hydroelectric .