Lake Louise Dam dam
Lake Louise Dam
Lake Louise Dam, located in Ortonville, Michigan, is a gravity dam built in 1925 primarily for recreation purposes. The dam stands at a height of 12 feet with a length of 303 feet, creating a reservoir with a maximum storage capacity of 860 acre-feet and a normal storage of 700 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Kearsley Creek and is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
With a hazard potential classified as high and a risk assessment indicating a very high risk level, the condition of Lake Louise Dam is assessed as satisfactory as of July 2019. The dam has a controlled spillway with a width of 19 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 555 cubic feet per second. Despite the high risk level, the dam has not been modified in recent years and has a regular inspection frequency of 3 years to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Given its location in a picturesque setting and its importance for recreation, Lake Louise Dam serves as a vital water resource for the community while also posing potential risks that require careful monitoring and management. The dam's significance lies not only in its recreational value but also in its role in water storage and management within the region, highlighting the importance of balancing the benefits and risks associated with such infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Lake Louise Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Farmers Creek Near Lapeer | 27 cfs | → |
| Kearsley Creek Near Davison | 52 cfs | → |
| Clinton River At Auburn Hills | 184 cfs | → |
| Stony Creek Near Romeo | 13 cfs | → |
| Paint Creek At Rochester | 18 cfs | → |
| Stony Creek Near Washington | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Louise Dam.
Boat launches
- Sawmill Lake Road Hadley Township
- F-All Visitors Loop Oakland County
- Big Fish Lake, 105 Acres, Lapeer County
- Valley Lake, (Holly Recreation Area), Oakland County
- Groveland Boulevard Oakland County
- Squaw Lake Dnr Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Ortonville State Rec Area
- Holly State Rec Area
- Group Camping Area 14
- Group Camping Area 12
- Group Camping Area 11
- Group Camping Area 10
Fishing spots
Track Lake Louise 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 Lake Louise Dam
Where does the data for Lake Louise 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 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 Lake Louise Dam.