Morley Dam dam
Morley Dam
Morley Dam, also known as Frank Deyo Dam, is a gravity dam located on the Little Muskegon River in Morley, Michigan. Built in 1908, this dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 57 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 600 acre-feet. With a height of 22 feet and a length of 460 feet, Morley Dam plays a crucial role in regulating the flow of the river and providing water storage for the surrounding area.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), Morley Dam has a significant hazard potential but is currently assessed as being in satisfactory condition. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 64 feet to manage excess water flow, and has a maximum discharge capacity of 3,375 cubic feet per second. Despite its age, Morley Dam continues to be inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and safety for nearby residents and recreational users.
With a very high risk assessment rating of 1, Morley Dam requires vigilant risk management measures to mitigate potential hazards and ensure public safety. The dam's emergency action plan, last revised in 2013, serves as a guideline for responding to any unforeseen events or emergencies. As a historic structure that significantly impacts the local water resources and climate, Morley Dam remains a key focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the Mecosta County area.
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 Morley Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Muskegon River Near Oak Grove | 244 cfs | → |
| Muskegon River Near Croton | 2,260 cfs | → |
| Fish Creek Near Crystal | 30 cfs | → |
| Rogue River Near Rockford | 239 cfs | → |
| Muskegon River At Evart | 1,540 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Grand Rapids | 4,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Morley Dam.
Boat launches
- Stanwood Boat Club
- 8 Mile Road Mecosta Township
- 205th Avenue Mecosta Township
- Morton Township
- 105th Avenue Morton Township
- Whitefish Lake Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Newaygo State Park
- Newaygo State Park Rustic Campground
- Brower County Park
- Big Bend Park
- Oxbow Park
- Canadian Lakes Campground
Fishing spots
- Baptist Lake
- Fishing Peir
- Blanch Lake
- Bostwick Lake
- Lake To The Hills
- Deerfield County Park Swimming Pond
Paddle runs
- Morley Dam In T13n, R10w To Croton Dam Pond In T12n, R11w
- Croton Dam In T12n, R11w To City Of Newaygo In T12n, R12w
- South Branch From Forest Boundary East Of Hesperia At West Section Line Of Sec 22, T14n, R14w To Echo Drive In Sec 6, T13n, R12w
- North Branch From Its Confluence With South Branch In Sec 22, T13n, R16 W To Mclaren Lake In Sec 11, T14n, R15w
- Mainstem To Forest Boundary At North Section Line Of Sec 2, T13n, R15w (1.5 Miles West Of Herperia)
Track Morley 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 Morley Dam
Where does the data for Morley 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 Morley Dam.