Grass Lake Level Control Structure dam
Grass Lake Level Control Structure
The Grass Lake Level Control Structure, also known as Lake Bella Vista Dam, is a privately owned dam located in Belmont, Michigan. Built in 1973, this earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes and is regulated by the state of Michigan. With a height of 29 feet and a length of 1900 feet, the dam impounds Barkley Creek, creating a surface area of 240 acres and a drainage area of 1.5 square miles.
The dam's spillway, which is uncontrolled, has a width of 5 feet, and it has a significant hazard potential with a satisfactory condition assessment as of August 2020. The structure's maximum discharge capacity is 175 cubic feet per second, and it has a normal storage capacity of 1800 acre-feet. The dam is inspected every four years, with the last assessment conducted in August 2020. Despite being privately owned, the dam is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement measures to ensure public safety and environmental protection.
Located in Kent County, Michigan, the Grass Lake Level Control Structure provides both recreational opportunities and flood control benefits to the local community. With its moderate risk assessment rating and satisfactory condition, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and climate-related challenges in the region.
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 Grass Lake Level Control Structure -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rogue River Near Rockford | 215 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Grand Rapids | 3,860 cfs | → |
| Little Muskegon River Near Oak Grove | 248 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Ionia | 1,970 cfs | → |
| Muskegon River Near Croton | 2,180 cfs | → |
| Fish Creek Near Crystal | 29 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Grass Lake Level Control Structure.
Boat launches
- Indian Drive Northeast Plainfield Charter Township
- Knapp Street Northeast Ada Township
- Access Street Northeast Algoma Township
- Boating Access Site Ada Township
- Barnard Street Southeast East Grand Rapids
- Grand Rapids Riverwalk East Grand Rapids
Campgrounds
- Wabasis Lake County Park
- Camp Greenwood
- Bertha Brock County Park
- Ionia State Rec Area
- Ionia Equestrian-Rustic
- Croton Township Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Morley Dam In T13n, R10w To Croton Dam Pond In T12n, R11w
- Croton Dam In T12n, R11w To City Of Newaygo In T12n, R12w
- South Branch From Forest Boundary East Of Hesperia At West Section Line Of Sec 22, T14n, R14w To Echo Drive In Sec 6, T13n, R12w
- North Branch From Its Confluence With South Branch In Sec 22, T13n, R16 W To Mclaren Lake In Sec 11, T14n, R15w
- Mainstem To Forest Boundary At North Section Line Of Sec 2, T13n, R15w (1.5 Miles West Of Herperia)
Track Grass Lake Level Control Structure 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 Grass Lake Level Control Structure
Where does the data for Grass Lake Level Control Structure 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 Significant 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 Grass Lake Level Control Structure.