Albion Dam dam
Albion Dam
Albion Dam, also known as Dutchtown, is a gravity dam located in Albion, Michigan, along the South Branch Kalamazoo River. Built in 1856 for recreational purposes, this historic structure stands at a height of 11 feet and spans 150 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 941 acre-feet and a surface area of 42 acres, the dam plays a significant role in managing water resources in the Calhoun County area.
Despite its age and historical significance, Albion Dam has been rated as having a poor condition assessment with a significant hazard potential. The dam is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE) and undergoes regular state inspections to ensure public safety. With a maximum discharge capacity of 530 cubic feet per second, the controlled spillway width of 99 feet helps mitigate flood risks in the surrounding area.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore the Albion Dam, they can appreciate its role in providing recreational opportunities while also recognizing the need for ongoing maintenance and risk management measures. With its very high risk assessment ranking, efforts to improve the dam's condition and emergency preparedness are crucial to safeguarding the community and environment from potential hazards.
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 Albion Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo River Near Marengo | 278 cfs | → |
| Kalamazoo River At Marshall | 499 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Jackson | 100 cfs | → |
| St. Joseph River At Burlington | 237 cfs | → |
| South Branch Hog Creek Near Allen | 40 cfs | → |
| Grand River Near Eaton Rapids | 1,400 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Albion Dam.
Boat launches
- Falling Waters Trail Concord
- Waterman Street Homer
- Pulaski Road 7400, Pulaski Township
- Lime Lake Park Township Of Spring Arbor
- Falling Waters Trail Township Of Spring Arbor
- Tompkins Road Tompkins Township
Campgrounds
- Swains Lake
- Wildwood Acres Campground
- Youth Haven Ranch
- Potawatomi Rec Area
- Eaton County Fairgrounds
- Angel Cove
Track Albion 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 Albion Dam
Where does the data for Albion 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 Albion Dam.