Sleepy Hollow Dam dam
Sleepy Hollow Dam
Sleepy Hollow Dam, also known as Lake Ovid Dam, is a state-owned structure located in Shepardsville, Michigan, on the Little Maple River. Built in 1974 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet with a hydraulic height of 26.2 feet and a length of 1072 feet. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, serving to protect the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
With a storage capacity of 7919 acre-feet, Sleepy Hollow Dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and mitigating flood risks in the region. The dam has a significant hazard potential and is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity. The latest inspection in October 2020 deemed its condition satisfactory, highlighting its importance in safeguarding the community against potential flood threats.
Managed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Sleepy Hollow Dam is a key infrastructure for water resource management in Clinton County. Its uncontrolled spillway and moderate risk assessment signify the importance of ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to protect the surrounding area from potential inundation. As a vital component in the region's water resource system, Sleepy Hollow Dam showcases the importance of sustainable infrastructure for climate resilience and flood control.
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 Sleepy Hollow Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shiawassee River At Owosso | 333 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Lansing | 760 cfs | → |
| Red Cedar River At East Lansing | 163 cfs | → |
| Maple River At Maple Rapids | 169 cfs | → |
| Sloan Creek Near Williamston | 2 cfs | → |
| Looking Glass River Near Eagle | 136 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sleepy Hollow Dam.
Track Sleepy Hollow 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 Sleepy Hollow Dam
Where does the data for Sleepy Hollow 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 Sleepy Hollow Dam.