Falmouth Dam dam
Falmouth Dam
Located in Falmouth, Michigan, the Falmouth Dam is a local government-owned structure on the Clam River with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1930, this earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet and spans a length of 1500 feet, providing a storage capacity of 275 acre-feet. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 46 feet, and it has a low hazard potential with a satisfactory condition assessment as of August 2019.
Managed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), the Falmouth Dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam's risk assessment is considered moderate, with a risk level of 3, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and management measures. While the dam has not undergone recent modifications, it is inspected every five years to ensure its structural integrity and safety for the surrounding community.
With its scenic location and recreational opportunities, the Falmouth Dam serves as a vital asset for the Missaukee County area. As climate change impacts water resources and infrastructure, maintaining the dam's resilience and functionality will be crucial for sustainable water management and recreation in the region. The dam's role in flood control, water storage, and overall environmental stewardship highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued benefit to the community and ecosystem.
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 Falmouth Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clam River At Vogel Center | 218 cfs | → |
| East Branch Pine River Near Tustin | 27 cfs | → |
| Muskegon River At Evart | 1,490 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Sherman | 1,850 cfs | → |
| Boardman R Above Brown Bridge Road Nr Mayfield | 248 cfs | → |
| Pine River At High School Bridge Nr Hoxeyville | 265 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Falmouth Dam.
Boat launches
- South Dyer Lake Drive 8089, Clam Union Township
- South Green Road 1799, Lake Township
- Public Boat Launch Caldwell Township
- Sapphire Lake Boat Ramp Lake Township
- Goose Lake Boat Ramp Caldwell Township
- Long Lake Park Caldwell Township
Campgrounds
- Dyer Lake - State Forest
- Veterans Memorial Park - Marion
- Maple Grove City Park
- Missaukee Lake County Park
- Goose Lake - State Forest
- Long Lake (Missaukee) - State Forest
Fishing spots
- Dead Stream Flooding
- Lake Cadillac
- Houghton Lake
- Hopkins Creek
- West Higgins Lake Drive Road End Access
- Higgins Lake
Paddle runs
Track Falmouth 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 Falmouth Dam
Where does the data for Falmouth 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 Falmouth Dam.