Mc Clure dam
Mc Clure
Mc Clure is a historic hydroelectric dam located in Marquette, Michigan, along the Dead River. Built in 1919, this gravity and earth dam stands at a height of 64 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 1870 acre-feet. With a surface area of 95 acres and a drainage area of 140.5 square miles, Mc Clure plays a crucial role in harnessing the power of water for hydroelectricity generation while also providing recreational opportunities for the surrounding community.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Mc Clure has a spillway width of 200 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 22,280 cubic feet per second. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is currently assessed to be in moderate risk condition. Regular inspections conducted by the FERC ensure the safety and integrity of the structure, with the last inspection taking place in September 2020. While Mc Clure does not have state jurisdiction or permitting requirements, it remains an essential piece of infrastructure for water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
As a key player in the water resource sector, Mc Clure symbolizes the intersection of sustainable energy production and environmental stewardship. Its historical significance, combined with its modern operational standards, highlights the importance of balancing human needs with natural resources. With a focus on hydroelectricity generation and recreational benefits, Mc Clure stands as a testament to the ingenuity and foresight of early dam builders, while also serving as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to adapt to changing climate conditions and ensure the safety of water infrastructure for future generations.
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 Mc Clure -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Schweitzer Creek Near Palmer | 12 cfs | → |
| Greenwood Diversion Near Greenwood | 14 cfs | → |
| Greenwood Release Near Greenwood | 25 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Escanaba River Nr Princeton | 293 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Escanaba River At Humboldt | 54 cfs | → |
| Au Train River At Forest Lake | 137 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mc Clure .
Boat launches
- Old County Road 510 Negaunee Township
- Hoist Dam Road Negaunee Township
- Basin Access Road Marquette Township
- Lakeshore Boulevard Marquette
- Peter White Drive Marquette
- County Road Aax Champion Township
Campgrounds
- Little Presque Isle Cabins
- Rippling River Resort
- Little Garlic River Campsite
- Private Camp
- Bass Lake State Forest Campground (Marquette)
- Little Lake State Forest Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- West Branch From Source In Sec 26, T46n, R23 W To Junction With County Road 444
- 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
- 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
Track Mc Clure 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 Mc Clure
Where does the data for Mc Clure 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 Mc Clure .