Erity Dam dam
Erity Dam
Erity Dam, located in Beverly Hills, Michigan, along the River Rouge, was completed in 1913 and serves primarily for recreational purposes. This gravity dam stands at a height of 16 feet with a length of 320 feet, providing a surface area of 27 acres and a drainage area of 41 square miles. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2012 was deemed poor, highlighting the need for maintenance and potential upgrades to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment.
Managed by the local government, Erity Dam is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. With a maximum storage capacity of 200 acre-feet and a normal storage of 150 acre-feet, the dam can discharge up to 800 cubic feet per second through its uncontrolled spillway. While the risk assessment categorizes the dam as moderate, ongoing risk management measures are essential to mitigate any potential hazards and ensure the long-term resilience of the structure.
In light of its historical significance and crucial role in providing recreational opportunities, Erity Dam stands as a vital piece of infrastructure in Oakland County, Michigan. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is imperative to monitor and support efforts to maintain and improve the dam's condition, safeguarding its integrity for future generations to enjoy and benefit from.
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 Erity Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| River Rouge At Birmingham | 13 cfs | → |
| River Rouge At Southfield | 36 cfs | → |
| Clinton River At Auburn Hills | 77 cfs | → |
| Upper River Rouge At Farmington | 10 cfs | → |
| Plum Brook At Utica | 6 cfs | → |
| River Rouge At Detroit | 68 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Erity Dam.
Boat launches
- Normanwood Circle 3807, West Bloomfield Township
- Orchard Lake, 788 Acres, Oakland County
- Canal Drive 41, Pontiac
- Elizabeth Lake Road Waterford Township
- Union Lake, 465 Acres, Oakland County
- Wolverine Lake, 241 Acres, Oakland County
Campgrounds
- Proud Lake State Rec Area
- Pontiac Lake Recreation Area Modern Campground
- South Hill Campsite
- Apache Campsite
- East Prairie Campsite
- Cherokee Campsite
Track Erity 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 Erity Dam
Where does the data for Erity 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 Erity Dam.