Fords Dam dam
Fords Dam
Fords Dam, also known as Wingford Dam, is a private structure located on the Black River in Port Huron, Michigan. Built in 1930, this buttress dam stands at a height of 31 feet and spans a length of 585 feet. With a primary purpose of recreation, the dam offers a storage capacity of 3,000 acre-feet and a surface area of 93 acres, making it a popular spot for outdoor activities and water sports enthusiasts.
Managed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), Fords Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 104 feet, capable of handling a maximum discharge of 15,175 cubic feet per second. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, the dam is categorized as having a very high risk due to its location and surrounding factors, prompting the need for ongoing risk management measures.
As a key feature in the Buffalo District of Michigan, Fords Dam provides not only recreational opportunities but also serves as a vital component in the local water resource infrastructure. With its rich history and significant impact on the Black River ecosystem, this dam continues to be a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the intersection of human-built structures and natural environments.
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 Fords Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black River Near Jeddo | 125 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Avoca | 48 cfs | → |
| Belle River At Memphis | 61 cfs | → |
| East Pond Creek At Romeo | 18 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Clinton River At Macomb | 40 cfs | → |
| Stony Creek Near Romeo | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fords Dam.
Boat launches
- Strawberry Lane 3627, Saint Clair County
- Bakersfield Park
- 40th Street 2401, Saint Clair County
- Marysville Boat Launch
- St Clair Parkway 1189, Mooretown
- St Clair Parkway St. Clair
Campgrounds
- Ruby Campground
- Silver Trails Scout Reservation
- Lakeport State Park
- Camp Hawthorn Hollow
- Lorne C. Henderson Con. Area
- Camp Rotary
Track Fords 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 Fords Dam
Where does the data for Fords 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 Fords Dam.