Phipps Lake Dam dam
Phipps Lake Dam
Phipps Lake Dam, also known as Phillips Lake Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Built in 1930, this earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes and stands at a height of 10 feet with a length of 75 feet. Situated on the Zimmerman Branch river, the dam has a normal storage capacity of 54 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 50 cubic feet per second.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Phipps Lake Dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE). The dam's controlled spillway, with a width of 3 feet, ensures the safe release of excess water during periods of high flow. With a very high risk rating, the dam's emergency action plan status and inundation maps have not been updated recently, highlighting potential vulnerabilities that may need to be addressed in the future to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment.
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 Phipps Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kearsley Creek Near Davison | 52 cfs | → |
| Farmers Creek Near Lapeer | 27 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Otisville | 320 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Flint | 614 cfs | → |
| Huron River At Milford | 73 cfs | → |
| Clinton River At Auburn Hills | 184 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Phipps Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Groveland Boulevard Oakland County
- Valley Lake, (Holly Recreation Area), Oakland County
- Sawmill Lake Road Hadley Township
- Crotched Lake, (Holly Recreation Area), Oakland County
- Big Fish Lake, 105 Acres, Lapeer County
- Thomas Road Oakland County
Campgrounds
- Holly State Rec Area
- Group Camping Area 14
- Group Camping Area 12
- Group Camping Area 11
- Group Camping Area 10
- Group Camping Area 9
Fishing spots
Track Phipps 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 Phipps Lake Dam
Where does the data for Phipps 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 Phipps Lake Dam.