Cambria Mill Pond Dam dam
Cambria Mill Pond Dam
Cambria Mill Pond Dam, located in Cambria, Michigan, was completed in 1890 and serves as a recreational site along the East Fork West Branch St Joseph River. This private dam, with a height of 26.2 feet and a hydraulic height of 20.9 feet, has a primary purpose of recreation and offers a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet. With a spillway width of 34 feet and a maximum discharge of 2500 cubic feet per second, the dam's hazard potential is classified as low, with a satisfactory condition assessment as of October 2019.
Managed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (MICHIGAN DEGLE), the Cambria Mill Pond Dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam's risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, and it is not owned or funded by any federal agency. Despite its age, the dam has been maintained satisfactorily, with regular inspections every five years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The surrounding area boasts a surface area of 38 acres and a drainage area of 26.6 square miles, making it a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.
Overall, Cambria Mill Pond Dam stands as a historic landmark in Hillsdale County, Michigan, offering both recreational opportunities and natural beauty to visitors. With its earth and gravity dam types, the structure provides a serene backdrop for activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. While it poses a moderate level of risk, the dam's low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment demonstrate the ongoing efforts to ensure public safety and environmental preservation in the area.
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 Cambria Mill Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Branch St. Joseph River Nr Nettle Lake | 67 cfs | → |
| South Branch Hog Creek Near Allen | 40 cfs | → |
| Fish Creek At Hamilton | 32 cfs | → |
| Bean Creek At Powers Oh | 158 cfs | → |
| Tiffin River At Stryker Oh | 113 cfs | → |
| Pigeon Creek Nr Angola | 87 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cambria Mill Pond Dam.
Track Cambria Mill Pond 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 Cambria Mill Pond Dam
Where does the data for Cambria Mill Pond 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 Low 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 Cambria Mill Pond Dam.