Pettysville Mill Dam dam
Pettysville Mill Dam
Located in Livingston, Michigan, the Pettysville Mill Dam, also known as the Mill House & Flume Dam, is a privately owned structure on Chilson Creek. Built in 1840, this Earth and Gravity dam stands at a height of 21 feet with a length of 370 feet, providing 85 acre-feet of storage capacity for recreational purposes. The dam is regulated and inspected by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), ensuring compliance with state regulations.
Despite being in fair condition as of the last assessment in 2009, the Pettysville Mill Dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential, with a very high risk level assigned. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 5 feet and is located in a picturesque setting, offering a surface area of 5 acres for recreational activities. With the dam's historical significance dating back over a century, its presence adds to the charm of the surrounding landscape and provides valuable water resource management in the area.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore the Pettysville Mill Dam, they can appreciate its role in the local ecosystem and the recreational opportunities it offers. The dam's presence on Chilson Creek contributes to the overall water management strategy in the region, while its historical and structural significance adds to the cultural heritage of the area. With ongoing inspections and regulatory oversight, the Pettysville Mill Dam remains a vital part of the landscape, blending functionality with historical charm for visitors and residents alike.
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 Pettysville Mill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Huron River Near Hamburg | 230 cfs | → |
| Huron River Near New Hudson | 105 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Dexter | 52 cfs | → |
| Huron River At Milford | 73 cfs | → |
| Huron River At Ann Arbor | 445 cfs | → |
| Malletts Creek At Ann Arbor | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pettysville Mill Dam.
Boat launches
- Bishop Lake Road Hamburg Township
- Bishop Lake Hiking Trail Hamburg Township
- East Schafer Road Hamburg Township
- Appleton Loop Hamburg Township
- Conrad Road Genoa Township
- Spears Road Putnam Township
Campgrounds
- Bishop Lake - Brighton Rec Area
- Appleton Lake - Brighton Rec Area
- Murray Lake - Brighton Rec Area
- Canoe Camping
- Pinckney-Crooked Lake Rustic
- Blind Lake Campground
Track Pettysville Mill 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 Pettysville Mill Dam
Where does the data for Pettysville Mill 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 Pettysville Mill Dam.