Schweitzer Dam dam
Schweitzer Dam
Schweitzer Dam, located in Gwinn, Michigan, is a significant structure that plays a crucial role in water supply. Built in 1962, this concrete dam stands at a height of 54 feet with a length of 570 feet, containing a storage capacity of 9,000 acre-feet. The dam controls the flow of Schweitzer Creek and has a maximum discharge capacity of 11,700 cubic feet per second.
Managed by a private owner, Schweitzer Dam is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), ensuring that it meets state inspection and enforcement standards. The dam's condition was assessed as satisfactory during its last inspection in November 2017, with a significant hazard potential due to its location and design. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam continues to serve its primary purpose of providing water supply to the surrounding area.
With a spillway width of 112 feet and a surface area of 255 acres, Schweitzer Dam remains a vital infrastructure for the community. While it faces some risks, the dam's operations are overseen by the Mine Safety and Health Administration to ensure its safety and reliability. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Schweitzer Dam stands as a testament to the importance of effective dam management and maintenance in safeguarding our water resources for future generations.
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 Schweitzer Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Schweitzer Creek Near Palmer | 12 cfs | → |
| Greenwood Diversion Near Greenwood | 14 cfs | → |
| Greenwood Release Near Greenwood | 25 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Escanaba River Nr Princeton | 293 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Escanaba River At Humboldt | 54 cfs | → |
| Michigamme River Near Crystal Falls | 1,430 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Schweitzer Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road Pfj Tilden Township
- Greenwood Reservoir Road Ely Township
- West Crooked Lake Lane Forsyth Township
- Hoist Dam Road Negaunee Township
- Old County Road 510 Negaunee Township
- West Knudsen Road Forsyth Township
Campgrounds
- Private Camp
- Bass Lake State Forest Campground (Marquette)
- Rippling River Resort
- Anderson Lake West State Forest Campground
- West Branch State Forest Campground
- Little Presque Isle Cabins
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- West Branch From Source In Sec 26, T46n, R23 W To Junction With County Road 444
- East Branch Net River, From Its Source In Sec 8, T47n, R32w To Confluence With Mainstem Net River In Sec 24, T46n, R34w
- Mainstem, Easternforest Boundary In Sec 1, T44n, R35w To City Of Crystal Falls
- West Branch Net River, From Its Source In Sec 35, T48n, R34w To Confluence With Mainstem Net River In Sec 24, T46n, R34w
- 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@
Track Schweitzer 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 Schweitzer Dam
Where does the data for Schweitzer 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 Schweitzer Dam.