Boyne Falls Dam dam
Boyne Falls Dam
Boyne Falls Dam, located on the Boyne River in Boyne Falls, Michigan, is owned by the local government and regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. The dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, with a height of 23 feet and a hydraulic height of 21.5 feet. It has a storage capacity of 88 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 17 acres, making it a significant resource in the area for water-based activities.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 85 feet and has a significant hazard potential, although its condition was assessed as satisfactory during its last inspection in June 2017. The risk assessment for Boyne Falls Dam is moderate, with a designated risk level of 3. Despite its potential hazards, the dam is regularly inspected and meets state regulatory requirements, ensuring the safety of the surrounding community and the preservation of the Boyne River ecosystem. Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Boyne Falls Dam an important feature in the region's water management and recreational landscape.
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 Boyne Falls Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan River Near East Jordan | 215 cfs | → |
| Sturgeon River At Wolverine | 320 cfs | → |
| Pigeon R At Sturgeon Valley Rd Near Vanderbilt | 95 cfs | → |
| Boardman R Above Brown Bridge Road Nr Mayfield | 218 cfs | → |
| South Branch Au Sable River Near Luzerne | 338 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Red Oak | 1,370 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Boyne Falls Dam.
Boat launches
- East Deer Lake Road 299, Boyne Valley Township
- Huffman Lake Road Hudson Township
- Lake Charlevoix -E2, 17260 Acres, Charlevoix County
- Buckeye Beach Road Chandler Township
- Webster Bridge Road 4802, Jordan Township
- Rogers Road 7059, South Arm Township
Campgrounds
- Young State Park
- Whiting County Park
- Lost Valley Bible Camp And Retreat Center
- East Jordan Tourist Park
- Graves Crossing - State Forest
- Graves Crossing State Forest Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Boyne Falls 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 Boyne Falls Dam
Where does the data for Boyne Falls 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 Boyne Falls Dam.