Maple River Dam dam
Maple River Dam
Maple River Dam, located in Indian River, Michigan, is a privately owned structure on the Maple River that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1966, this earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet with a length of 880 feet. It has a storage capacity of 808 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 43 acres, making it a popular spot for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation.
Despite its low hazard potential, Maple River Dam is currently rated as being in poor condition as of the last inspection in December 2014. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 28 feet, and a maximum discharge capacity of 1,600 cubic feet per second. It is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), and undergoes state inspections and enforcement to ensure public safety and environmental protection. While the dam poses a moderate risk, measures for risk management and emergency preparedness are yet to be fully implemented.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Maple River Dam offers a fascinating case study in the intersection of infrastructure, recreation, and environmental stewardship. Its historical significance and ongoing maintenance challenges provide valuable insights into the complexities of managing dams in a changing climate. As efforts continue to assess and address the dam's condition and safety concerns, the Maple River Dam remains a vital piece of Michigan's water infrastructure landscape, highlighting the delicate balance between human enjoyment and ecological conservation.
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 Maple River Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sturgeon River At Wolverine | 301 cfs | → |
| Pigeon R At Sturgeon Valley Rd Near Vanderbilt | 97 cfs | → |
| Jordan River Near East Jordan | 216 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Garnet | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Maple River Dam.
Boat launches
- Koepke Road Mckinley Township
- Brandau Road 9199, Munro Township
- Channel Road Springvale Township
- Us 31 2628, Little Traverse Township
- Channel Road 7194, Springvale Township
- Kaz Road Center Township
Campgrounds
- Maple Bay State Forest Campground
- Maple Bay - State Forest
- Camp Petosega
- Marriott Camper Rentals Llc
- Organization Campground
- Petoskey State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Maple River 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 Maple River Dam
Where does the data for Maple River 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 Maple River Dam.