Trowbridge Dam dam
Trowbridge Dam
Trowbridge Dam, located in Allegan, Michigan, along the Kalamazoo River, was completed in 1899 and stands at a height of 25 feet with a hydraulic height of 30.2 feet. The dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering activities such as boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing. With a normal storage capacity of 590 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 660 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 59 acres and has a drainage area of 1522 square miles.
The dam has a spillway width of 80 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 3900 cubic feet per second. Classified as a gravity dam, Trowbridge Dam has a high hazard potential and was assessed to be in fair condition as of June 2019. Despite the moderate risk associated with the dam, regular inspections are conducted by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE) to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) was last revised in March 2012, outlining necessary protocols in case of a potential breach or flooding event. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the historical significance and recreational value that Trowbridge Dam provides to the local community and the surrounding ecosystem.
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 Trowbridge Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rabbit River Near Hopkins | 54 cfs | → |
| Portage Creek At Kalamazoo | 55 cfs | → |
| West Fork Portage Creek Near Oshtemo | 10 cfs | → |
| West Fork Portage Creek At Kalamazoo | 14 cfs | → |
| Kalamazoo River At New Richmond | 1,840 cfs | → |
| Kalamazoo River Near New Richmond | 4,480 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Trowbridge Dam.
Boat launches
- Brandywine Lake Road 31738, Pine Grove
- County Road 653 Pine Grove Township
- Prairieville Township Center Street Lake Access
- County Road 380 47089, Columbia Township
- 24th Street 46683, Columbia Township
- Patterson Road 2373, Martin Township
Campgrounds
- Brookside City Park
- Tri-Ponds Family Camp Resort
- Ely Lake Campground
- Silver Creek Campground
- Camp Merrie Wood
- Markin Glen County Park
Fishing spots
Track Trowbridge 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 Trowbridge Dam
Where does the data for Trowbridge 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 Trowbridge Dam.