Crystal Lake Level Control Dam dam
Crystal Lake Level Control Dam
The Crystal Lake Level Control Dam in Elberta, Michigan, is a gravity dam completed in 1977 with a primary purpose of recreation. Situated on the Crystal Lake Outlet, this dam has a height of 7 feet and a hydraulic height of 5 feet, with a storage capacity of 27,190 acre-feet. The dam also features a controlled spillway with a width of 70 feet, ensuring the safe management of water levels.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, the dam poses a very high risk due to its location and potential impact on surrounding areas. The dam is privately owned and not regulated by the state, with no inspection or enforcement mechanisms in place. The last inspection was conducted in September 2018, with an inspection frequency of 5 years.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find the Crystal Lake Level Control Dam an intriguing structure that plays a crucial role in managing water levels for recreational purposes. Its unique design and risk profile highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and stability of the dam and surrounding areas.
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 Crystal Lake Level Control Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Platte River At Honor | 192 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Mesick | 1,510 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Sherman | 1,590 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Wellston | 2,560 cfs | → |
| Boardman R Above Brown Bridge Road Nr Mayfield | 226 cfs | → |
| Pine River At High School Bridge Nr Hoxeyville | 307 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Crystal Lake Level Control Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Crystal Lake Boat Launch Frankfort
- Nichols Road 2198, Benzonia Township
- Crystal Lake -E, 9711 Acres, Benzie County
- Betsie Lake, Elberta, Benzie County
- North Scenic Highway Lake Township
- Lower Herring Lake, 450 Acres, Benzie County
⛺ Campgrounds
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Platte River Campground
- White Pine Backcountry Campground
- Sleeping Bear National Lake Shore - White Pine Campground
- Platte River State Forest Campground
- Garey Lake Trail Camp - State Forest
- Hopkins Park Rv Campground
🎣 Fishing spots
- Betsie Lake
- Lake Arcadia (Public Fishing Dock At Grebe Park)
- Lake Dubonnet
- Bar Lake - Lake Michigan - Bar Lake Outlet
- Lake Leelanau
- Kids Creek
🛶 Paddle runs
- Southern Boundary Of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore To Mouth At Lake Michigan
- Southeastern Boundary Of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore To Northwetern Boundary Of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
- Kings Road Bridge (2 Miles West Of Town Of Luther In T19n, R12w To Slackwater Of The State Fish Weir In T21n, R16w
Track Crystal Lake Level Control 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 Crystal Lake Level Control Dam
Where does the data for Crystal Lake Level Control 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 Crystal Lake Level Control Dam.