Sand River Wildlife Flooding Dam dam
Sand River Wildlife Flooding Dam
The Sand River Wildlife Flooding Dam in Michigan is a vital structure that serves multiple purposes, including flood control and wildlife preservation. Completed in 1981, this earth dam stands at a height of 12 feet and has a hydraulic height of 10.5 feet, providing crucial protection for the surrounding area. With a storage capacity of 2,747 acre-feet and a controlled spillway, the dam helps regulate water levels in the Sand River, ensuring both habitat preservation and flood prevention.
Located in Marquette, Michigan, the Sand River Wildlife Flooding Dam is owned and regulated by the state, with regular inspections and enforcement measures in place to maintain its structural integrity. The dam has a low hazard potential and is in satisfactory condition, with a risk assessment rating of Very High (1). Despite its low hazard potential, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region, with a maximum discharge capacity of 1,900 cubic feet per second and a drainage area of 28.6 square miles.
The Sand River Wildlife Flooding Dam is a testament to the importance of responsible water resource management in the face of climate change. As a key structure in the Detroit District, this dam not only protects the local ecosystem and communities from flooding but also serves as a model for sustainable infrastructure development in the region. With its controlled spillway and satisfactory condition, the dam stands ready to meet the challenges of a changing climate while preserving the natural beauty of the Sand River 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 Sand River Wildlife Flooding Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Au Train River At Forest Lake | 137 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Escanaba River Nr Princeton | 242 cfs | → |
| Schweitzer Creek Near Palmer | 9 cfs | → |
| Greenwood Diversion Near Greenwood | 14 cfs | → |
| Greenwood Release Near Greenwood | 25 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Escanaba River At Humboldt | 50 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sand River Wildlife Flooding Dam.
Boat launches
- North Country Trail Onota Township
- North Country Trail Chocolay Township
- North Point Road Onota Township
- M-28 Au Train Township
- Engman Lake Access Road West Branch Township
Campgrounds
- Rippling River Resort
- Au Train Lake Campground
- Little Lake State Forest Campground
- Forest Lake State Forest Campground
- Bay Furnace Campground
- Bay Furnace
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- West Branch From Source In Sec 26, T46n, R23 W To Junction With County Road 444
- County Road H-58 (Aka. Adams Trail/ Munising-Van Meer-Shingleton Rd.) To Mouth At Lake Superior
- Section 17, T48n, R17w (Boundary Of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Lands) To Mouth At Lake Superior
- From Sixteen Mile Lake To North Line Of Sec 26, T43n, R19w
Track Sand River Wildlife Flooding 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 Sand River Wildlife Flooding Dam
Where does the data for Sand River Wildlife Flooding 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 Sand River Wildlife Flooding Dam.