Sturgis dam
Sturgis
Located in St. Joseph, Michigan, the Sturgis Dam along the St Joseph River was completed in 1913 and serves as a key hydroelectric and recreational resource in the area. With a dam height of 25 feet and a length of 800 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 9,300 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 6,550 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is hydroelectric power generation, with additional benefits for recreation.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Sturgis Dam is classified as a buttress dam with a multi-arch core type and is built on a soil foundation. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 300 feet and 30 vertical lift outlet gates. Despite a high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently not available, highlighting the need for regular inspection and maintenance to ensure its safety and longevity.
With a risk assessment rating of very high (1), the Sturgis Dam presents a significant management challenge. Emergency action plans are critical in mitigating potential risks associated with the dam and ensuring the safety of surrounding communities. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Sturgis Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable dam management practices and the ongoing need for proactive risk assessment and mitigation measures.
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 Sturgis -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph River At Three Rivers | 1,780 cfs | → |
| Prairie River Near Nottawa | 114 cfs | → |
| Pigeon River Near Scott | 326 cfs | → |
| St. Joseph River At Mottville | 2,180 cfs | → |
| West Fork Portage Creek Near Oshtemo | 8 cfs | → |
| West Fork Portage Creek At Kalamazoo | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sturgis .
Boat launches
- Jefferson Street Three Rivers
- Findley Road 23906, Nottawa Township
- Riverwalk Trail Three Rivers
- Fishing Site Road Fabius Township
- Coon Hollow Road 11864, Fabius Township
- Shafer Brothers Road 58679, Fabius
Campgrounds
- Nottawa Park
- Wood Lake Scout Reservation
- Cade Lake County Park
- Camp Rota-Kiwan
- Elkhart Co. / Middlebury Koa Holiday
- Improved Campground
Fishing spots
Track Sturgis 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 Sturgis
Where does the data for Sturgis 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 Sturgis .