Hemingway Lake Dam dam
Hemingway Lake Dam
Hemingway Lake Dam, located in Columbiaville, Michigan, serves as a vital structure for recreation on the Hemmingway and Wipple Drain rivers. Built in 1912, this earth dam stands at a height of 12.4 feet and spans 200 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 875 acre-feet with a normal storage of 700 acre-feet. The dam's low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment make it a reliable resource for water management in the Lapeer County area.
Managed by a private owner, Hemingway Lake Dam is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), ensuring that state inspection, enforcement, and permitting requirements are met. The dam's uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 14 feet, can handle a maximum discharge of 384 cubic feet per second, further enhancing its safety and functionality. Recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and wildlife observation benefit from this dam, making it a valuable asset for both water resource and climate enthusiasts in the region.
With a moderate risk assessment rating, Hemingway Lake Dam continues to play a crucial role in water management and recreation in the area. Its historical significance, combined with its modern functionality and regulatory compliance, highlights the importance of sustainable dam infrastructure for both environmental conservation and public enjoyment. As a key feature in the local landscape, Hemingway Lake Dam stands as a testament to the intersection of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Hemingway Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Branch Flint River Near Columbiaville | 162 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Otisville | 289 cfs | → |
| Farmers Creek Near Lapeer | 27 cfs | → |
| Kearsley Creek Near Davison | 37 cfs | → |
| Cass River At Frankenmuth | 301 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Flint | 492 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hemingway Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Holloway Reservoir, 2000 Acres, Lapeer County
- Buell Lake, Genesee County
- Mott Lake -E, 650 Acres, Genesee County
- Long Lake, 204 Acres, Lapeer County
- Lake Nepessing, 414 Acres, Lapeer County
- Blue Gill Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Otter Lake Park
- Wolverine
- Arthur Latham Park
- Metamora - Hadley Rec Area
- Old Family Camp Site - Not Rentable
- Elliott Family Camp - 17 Rv Sites
Fishing spots
Track Hemingway Lake 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 Hemingway Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hemingway Lake 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 Hemingway Lake Dam.