Okie Kauffman Dam dam
Okie Kauffman Dam
Okie Kauffman Dam, located in Mio, Michigan, is a privately-owned earth dam that was completed in 1975 for the primary purpose of recreation along Guslers Creek. The dam stands at a height of 20 feet and has a length of 248 feet, providing a storage capacity of 82 acre-feet of water. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is currently in poor condition as of the last inspection in June 2020.
Managed by the USDA NRCS and regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Okie Kauffman Dam is subject to regular state inspections, permits, and enforcement measures to ensure its safety. With a moderate risk rating of 3, there is a need for improved risk management measures to address the dam's poor condition. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway type with a width of 30 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 170 cubic feet per second.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Okie Kauffman Dam can appreciate its significance as a recreational structure in Oscoda County, Michigan. However, concerns over its poor condition and moderate risk rating highlight the importance of ongoing maintenance and risk management efforts to ensure the safety and stability of the dam for both recreational users and the surrounding community.
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 Okie Kauffman Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Au Sable River At Mio | 2,090 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Red Oak | 1,770 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Mc Kinley | 2,210 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Curtisville | 2,100 cfs | → |
| South Branch Au Sable River Near Luzerne | 374 cfs | → |
| Thunder Bay River At Herron Road Near Bolton | 1,200 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Okie Kauffman Dam.
Boat launches
- Reber Road Comins Township
- Evans Road Mentor Township
- Mccollum Lake Road Clinton Township
- Federal Route 4001 Mitchell Township
- North Skeel Road Millen Township
- Thompson's Landing River Access
Campgrounds
- Meadow Springs Campground
- Au Sable Loop Campground And Day Use Area
- River Dune Campground
- Mio Pond State Forest Campground And Group Camp
- Cathedral Pines Campground
- Mckinley Horse Trail Campground
Fishing spots
- O'Brien Lake Access
- Crater Lake Fishing Access
- Avery Lake
- Fletcher Pond
- Grebe Lake
- Sprinkler Lake Access Site
More reservoirs
Track Okie Kauffman 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 Okie Kauffman Dam
Where does the data for Okie Kauffman 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 Okie Kauffman Dam.