General Motors Dam dam
General Motors Dam
General Motors Dam, also known as Sloan Lake Dam, is a private-owned structure located in Brighton, Michigan. Completed in 1926, this arch-type dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a tranquil setting for visitors to enjoy the surrounding Mann Creek and Sloan Lake. With a height of 13 feet and a length of 380 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 420 acre-feet and a surface area of 69 acres, making it a significant feature in the area's water resource management.
Managed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), General Motors Dam is subject to state regulations, inspections, and enforcement to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, the dam is monitored regularly, with the last inspection conducted in October 2019. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, reflecting the need for ongoing risk management measures to mitigate potential hazards and ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment.
With its picturesque location and historical significance, General Motors Dam remains a vital component of the water infrastructure in Livingston County, Michigan. As a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers, the dam continues to serve as a recreational hub while upholding safety standards and regulatory compliance. As climate change and water resource challenges continue to impact the region, the management and maintenance of dams like General Motors Dam play a crucial role in sustaining water availability and safeguarding against potential risks in the future.
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 General Motors Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Huron River At Milford | 73 cfs | → |
| Huron River Near New Hudson | 105 cfs | → |
| Huron River Near Hamburg | 230 cfs | → |
| Upper River Rouge At Farmington | 24 cfs | → |
| Middle River Rouge At Plymouth | 40 cfs | → |
| Huron River At Ann Arbor | 445 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near General Motors Dam.
Boat launches
- West Dawson Road 1790, Oakland County
- Kent Lake, 1000 Acres, Oakland County
- Pettibone Lake Road Highland
- Hilton Road 8809, Brighton Township
- Pettibone Lake Boat Launch Oakland County
- Alderman Lake Boat Landing Oakland County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track General Motors 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 General Motors Dam
Where does the data for General Motors 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 General Motors Dam.