Upper Goose Pen Pool Dam dam
Upper Goose Pen Pool Dam
Upper Goose Pen Pool Dam in Schoolcraft, Michigan, is a Federal-owned structure designed by the USDI Division of Wildlife Refuges for the primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. Completed in 1939, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 17 feet and has a structural length of 325 feet. It is located on Gray's Creek and Pine Creek, providing essential water resources for the surrounding area.
With a normal storage capacity of 34 acre-feet and a drainage area of 46.7 square miles, Upper Goose Pen Pool Dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and supporting wildlife habitats in the region. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2018 rated as poor, highlighting the need for ongoing maintenance and inspection to ensure its structural integrity and operational efficiency. The dam also has a controlled spillway and other controlled outlet gates to manage water levels effectively.
As an important component of the local ecosystem, Upper Goose Pen Pool Dam requires careful monitoring and risk assessment to mitigate potential hazards and ensure continued functionality. With its very high risk rating and the involvement of the Michigan DEGLE in regulation and enforcement, this dam serves as a key resource for water management and conservation efforts in the area. Climate and water resource enthusiasts will find this dam's history and operational details fascinating, showcasing the intersection of human infrastructure and environmental stewardship.
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 Upper Goose Pen Pool Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Manistique River Near Manistique | 2,510 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Garnet | 36 cfs | → |
| Tahquamenon River Near Paradise | 1,420 cfs | → |
| Sturgeon River Near Nahma Junction | 258 cfs | → |
| Au Train River At Forest Lake | 137 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Goose Pen Pool Dam .
Boat launches
- Zellar Road Germfask Township
- Ten Curves Road Germfask
- Manistique River Road Germfask Township
- County Road 480 Lakefield Township
- Cook's Bay Access Portage Township
- Wolfe Road Portage Township
Campgrounds
- Mead Creek State Forest Campground
- South Manistique Lake State Forest Campground
- Fox River State Forest Campground
- Milakokia Lake State Forest Campground
- East Branch Of Fox River State Forest Campground
- Merwin Creek State Forest Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Section 17, T48n, R17w (Boundary Of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Lands) To Mouth At Lake Superior
- County Road H-58 (Aka. Adams Trail/ Munising-Van Meer-Shingleton Rd.) To Mouth At Lake Superior
- From Sixteen Mile Lake To North Line Of Sec 26, T43n, R19w
- East Branch From Western Forest Boundary (Sec 19, T46n, R6w) To Confluence With Mainstem
- Origin At Confluence Of Outlets Of Frenchman Lake And Carp Lake (Sec 26, T44n, R6w) To West Section Line Of Sec 30, T43n, R5w
- Source In Sec 21, T47n, R12w To Mouth At Whitefish Bay
Track Upper Goose Pen Pool 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 Upper Goose Pen Pool Dam
Where does the data for Upper Goose Pen Pool 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 Upper Goose Pen Pool Dam .