Nichwagh Lake Dam dam
Nichwagh Lake Dam
Nichwagh Lake Dam, also known as Rushton Mill Pond Dam, is a private dam located in Livingston County, Michigan. Completed in 1830, this gravity dam serves primarily for recreational purposes and has a height of 16 feet and a hydraulic height of 14.7 feet. With a storage capacity of 1700 acre-feet and a normal storage of 250 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 130 acres and has a drainage area of 18.2 square miles.
Situated on a tributary to the Huron River, Nichwagh Lake Dam has a spillway width of 25 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 732 cubic feet per second. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam is currently in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in November 2018. While it is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the dam poses a moderate risk level and has not been associated with the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Overall, Nichwagh Lake Dam stands as a historic structure that not only provides recreational opportunities but also plays a significant role in managing water resources in the area. Its impact on the local ecosystem and its potential risks underscore the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and sustainability of the dam for both the community and the environment.
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 Nichwagh Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Huron River Near New Hudson | 105 cfs | → |
| Huron River Near Hamburg | 277 cfs | → |
| Huron River At Milford | 73 cfs | → |
| Huron River At Ann Arbor | 408 cfs | → |
| Malletts Creek At Ann Arbor | 26 cfs | → |
| Middle River Rouge At Plymouth | 40 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nichwagh Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Kent Lake, 1000 Acres, Oakland County
- Hilton Road 8809, Brighton Township
- Appleton Loop Hamburg Township
- Bishop Lake Hiking Trail Hamburg Township
- West Dawson Road 1790, Oakland County
- Bishop Lake Road Hamburg Township
Campgrounds
- Murray Lake - Brighton Rec Area
- Group Use Area
- Appleton Lake - Brighton Rec Area
- Bishop Lake - Brighton Rec Area
- Group Camp 7
- Group Camp 6
Track Nichwagh Lake 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 Nichwagh Lake Dam
Where does the data for Nichwagh Lake 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 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 Nichwagh Lake Dam.