Republic Dam dam
Republic Dam
Republic Dam, located in Marquette, Michigan, on the Michigamme River, stands as a testament to early 20th-century engineering with its gravity design completed in 1913. The dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 145 acres for water enthusiasts to explore. However, recent inspections have revealed that the dam is in poor condition, with a significant hazard potential, highlighting the need for immediate attention to ensure public safety and the preservation of this historic structure.
With a height of 22 feet and a length of 400 feet, Republic Dam boasts a storage capacity of 1,650 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 3,700 cubic feet per second. Despite its age, the dam continues to be regulated and inspected by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, demonstrating the commitment to maintaining the integrity of this vital water resource. The presence of a controlled spillway with a width of 87 feet adds an additional layer of safety to the dam's operations.
As climate change intensifies, the risk assessment for Republic Dam has been classified as very high, emphasizing the urgency for implementing effective risk management measures. The dam's location in Floodwood, Michigan, underscores the importance of protecting water resources in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. With its historical significance and recreational value, Republic Dam serves as a reminder of the intersection between water management, climate resilience, and public safety in the 21st century.
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 Republic Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Branch Escanaba River At Humboldt | 54 cfs | → |
| Greenwood Release Near Greenwood | 25 cfs | → |
| Greenwood Diversion Near Greenwood | 14 cfs | → |
| Schweitzer Creek Near Palmer | 12 cfs | → |
| Michigamme River Near Crystal Falls | 1,430 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Escanaba River Nr Princeton | 293 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Republic Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road Lf Republic Township
- Elm Road Republic Township
- Fence River Road Republic Township
- Public Access Republic Township
- Greenwood Reservoir Road Ely Township
Campgrounds
- Squaw Lake State Forest Campground
- North Horseshoe Lake State Forest Campground
- Private Camp
- Silver Lake Resort
- Beaufort Lake State Forest Campground
- Lake Ellen Camp
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- East Branch Net River, From Its Source In Sec 8, T47n, R32w To Confluence With Mainstem Net River In Sec 24, T46n, R34w
- West Branch Net River, From Its Source In Sec 35, T48n, R34w To Confluence With Mainstem Net River In Sec 24, T46n, R34w
- Mainstem, Easternforest Boundary In Sec 1, T44n, R35w To City Of Crystal Falls
- Net River Mainstem, Confluence With East/West Branches To Confluence With The Mainstem Paint River
- From Wagner Lake In Sec 13, T49n, R31w To Eastern Boundary Of The Ottawa Nf In Sec 12, T48n, R35@
- Brule Lake In Ne1/4 Sec 15, T41n, R13e To Forest Boundary In Se1/4 Sec 31, T41n, R17e
Track Republic 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 Republic Dam
Where does the data for Republic 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 Republic Dam.