Fawn River Mill Dam dam
Fawn River Mill Dam
Located in Fawn River, Michigan, the Fawn River Mill Dam stands as a historic structure completed in 1830 with a primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation. This Earth-type dam measures 14 feet in height and 625 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet. The dam serves the Fawn River, with a controlled spillway width of 24 feet and a maximum discharge of 2350 cubic feet per second.
Despite its age, the Fawn River Mill Dam is classified as having a low hazard potential, with a very high risk assessment rating. The dam's condition is currently not rated, and it has not undergone recent inspections. The dam does not fall under state jurisdiction or regulation, and it is privately owned. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find the Fawn River Mill Dam to be a fascinating piece of infrastructure with a rich history and potential for further exploration into its impact on the surrounding ecosystem and hydrology.
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 Fawn River Mill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie River Near Nottawa | 114 cfs | → |
| Pigeon River Near Scott | 326 cfs | → |
| Pigeon Creek Nr Angola | 90 cfs | → |
| St. Joseph River At Three Rivers | 1,780 cfs | → |
| St. Joseph River At Mottville | 2,180 cfs | → |
| Nb Elkhart River At Cosperville | 153 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fawn River Mill Dam.
Boat launches
- East Fawn River Road 29783, Fawn River
- Prairie Lake Road 64873, Sherman Township
- Robin Lee Lane Sherman Township
- Gilead Lake Boat Launch
- Pine Grove Road 59160, Colon Township
- Findley Road 23906, Nottawa Township
Campgrounds
- Cade Lake County Park
- Pigeon River State Fish And Wildlife Area
- Nottawa Park
- Pokagon State Park
- Steuben County Park
- Elkhart Co. / Middlebury Koa Holiday
Fishing spots
Track Fawn River Mill 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 Fawn River Mill Dam
Where does the data for Fawn River Mill 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 Fawn River Mill Dam.