Pine Creek Dam dam
Pine Creek Dam
Pine Creek Dam, located in Allegan, Michigan, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for recreation purposes. Completed in 1973, the dam stands at a height of 17 feet with a hydraulic height of 15 feet and a length of 1700 feet. It has a storage capacity of 535 acre-feet, with a normal storage of 200 acre-feet and a surface area of 38 acres.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment as of May 2018, Pine Creek Dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential, with a very high risk assessment rating of 1. The dam is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), which also oversees its permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes. The dam's spillway is controlled with a width of 40 feet, capable of handling a maximum discharge of 3000 cubic feet per second.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Pine Creek Dam to be an intriguing structure due to its important role in providing recreational opportunities in the area. However, its significant hazard potential and high risk assessment highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam for both recreational users and downstream communities along Pine Creek.
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 Pine Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rabbit River Near Hopkins | 54 cfs | → |
| Portage Creek At Kalamazoo | 55 cfs | → |
| West Fork Portage Creek Near Oshtemo | 10 cfs | → |
| West Fork Portage Creek At Kalamazoo | 14 cfs | → |
| Kalamazoo River At Comstock | 939 cfs | → |
| Augusta Creek Near Augusta | 44 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pine Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road 653 Pine Grove Township
- Brandywine Lake Road 31738, Pine Grove
- Prairieville Township Center Street Lake Access
- Patterson Road 2373, Martin Township
- County Road 380 47089, Columbia Township
- 24th Street 46683, Columbia Township
Campgrounds
- Brookside City Park
- Camp Merrie Wood
- Markin Glen County Park
- Tri-Ponds Family Camp Resort
- Gun Lake - Yankee Springs State Rec Area
- Ely Lake Campground
Fishing spots
Track Pine Creek 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 Pine Creek Dam
Where does the data for Pine Creek 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 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 Pine Creek Dam.