Monterey Lake Dam dam
Monterey Lake Dam
Monterey Lake Dam, also known as Sandy Pines Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Allegan, Michigan. Constructed in 1971, the dam primarily serves a recreational purpose, with a height of 20 feet and a length of 650 feet. It impounds Pigeon Creek, creating a surface area of 240 acres and a storage capacity of 2790 acre-feet.
Managed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), Monterey Lake Dam has a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and a maximum discharge capacity of 320 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk level, the dam is inspected every three years to ensure its structural integrity and compliance with regulatory standards.
Located in a picturesque setting near Hamilton, Michigan, Monterey Lake Dam provides a popular recreational spot for water and climate enthusiasts. With its serene lake and surrounding natural beauty, the dam offers a peaceful retreat for visitors seeking outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. While maintaining a balance between safety and leisure, Monterey Lake Dam stands as a testament to the importance of responsible water resource management in a changing climate.
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 Monterey Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rabbit River Near Hopkins | 47 cfs | → |
| Macatawa River At State Road Near Zeeland | 18 cfs | → |
| Kalamazoo River At New Richmond | 1,940 cfs | → |
| Kalamazoo River Near New Richmond | 4,480 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Grand Rapids | 3,810 cfs | → |
| Rogue River Near Rockford | 237 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Monterey Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Green Lake Boat Launch
- Patterson Road 2373, Martin Township
- Veterans Memorial Drive Southwest Walker
- Hutchins Lake Boat Launch
- 28th Avenue Georgetown Township
- Hacklander Boating Access Site Saugatuck Township
Campgrounds
- Silver Creek Campground
- Tri-Ponds Family Camp Resort
- Ely Lake Campground
- Gun Lake - Yankee Springs State Rec Area
- Brookside City Park
- Yankee Springs Deep Lake-Rustic
Fishing spots
Track Monterey Lake 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 Monterey Lake Dam
Where does the data for Monterey Lake 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 Monterey Lake Dam.