La Barge dam
La Barge
La Barge, located in Kent County, Michigan, is a gravity dam constructed in 1901 on the Thornapple River for hydroelectric purposes. This earth and gravity dam stands at 18 feet high with a hydraulic height of 32 feet and a structural height of 25 feet. It boasts a dam length of 542 feet and a storage capacity of 5,250 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 773 square miles. With a maximum discharge of 16,500 cubic feet per second, La Barge plays a crucial role in water resource management and hydroelectric power generation in the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, La Barge is equipped with a controlled spillway, Tainter gates, and a high hazard potential due to its very high risk assessment rating. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in December 2019, ensuring that necessary measures are in place to mitigate any potential risks. While the condition assessment is not available, the dam undergoes inspections annually, with the last one conducted in September 2020. La Barge stands as a significant infrastructure contributing to water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the area, highlighting the importance of sustainable hydroelectric power generation and dam safety practices.
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 La Barge -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Grand River At Grand Rapids | 3,860 cfs | → |
| Rabbit River Near Hopkins | 47 cfs | → |
| Thornapple River Near Hastings | 259 cfs | → |
| Rogue River Near Rockford | 215 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Ionia | 1,970 cfs | → |
| Quaker Brook Near Nashville | 21 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near La Barge .
Boat launches
- 84th Street Southeast 9620, Bowne Township
- Green Lake Boat Launch
- Cascade Road Southeast 14216, Lowell Charter Township
- Boating Access Site Ada Township
- Barnard Street Southeast East Grand Rapids
- Leach Lake Road Carlton Township
Campgrounds
- Yankee Springs Deep Lake-Rustic
- Deep Lake - Yankee Springs State Rec Area
- Gun Lake - Yankee Springs State Rec Area
- Tyden City Park
- Barry Expo Center
- Winding Creek Campground
Fishing spots
Track La Barge 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 La Barge
Where does the data for La Barge 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 La Barge .