Portage Plant Dam dam
Portage Plant Dam
Portage Plant Dam, also known as Boy's Dam, is a privately owned recreational earth dam located on the Portage River in Three Rivers, Michigan. Completed in 1922, this dam stands at 19 feet high and spans 1116 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 1300 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, providing a surface area of 81 acres for water enthusiasts to enjoy.
Despite its long history, the Portage Plant Dam faces challenges in terms of its condition assessment, with a poor rating and a high hazard potential. The dam is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure public safety. With a very high risk ranking, emergency action plans are crucial for this dam, although details on their preparation and guidelines adherence are not provided in the data.
The Portage Plant Dam offers a picturesque setting for recreational activities along the Portage River, but its structural integrity and risk factors highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of both the dam and the surrounding community. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to stay informed about the condition of dams like Portage Plant Dam and advocate for proper management practices to mitigate potential hazards and safeguard our water resources for future generations.
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 Portage Plant Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph River At Three Rivers | 1,570 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Nottawa | 109 cfs | → |
| St. Joseph River At Mottville | 1,880 cfs | → |
| Pigeon River Near Scott | 321 cfs | → |
| West Fork Portage Creek Near Oshtemo | 10 cfs | → |
| West Fork Portage Creek At Kalamazoo | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Portage Plant Dam.
Boat launches
- Jefferson Street Three Rivers
- Riverwalk Trail Three Rivers
- Fishing Site Road Fabius Township
- Coon Hollow Road 11864, Fabius Township
- Shafer Brothers Road 58679, Fabius
- Lucas Road 10017, Newberg Township
Campgrounds
- Nottawa Park
- Wood Lake Scout Reservation
- Elkhart Co. / Middlebury Koa Holiday
- Cade Lake County Park
- Camp Rota-Kiwan
- Improved Campground
Fishing spots
Track Portage Plant 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 Portage Plant Dam
Where does the data for Portage Plant 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 High 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 Portage Plant Dam.