Mason Wildlife Dam dam
Mason Wildlife Dam
Located in Lansing, Michigan, the Mason Wildlife Dam is a local government-owned structure on Mud Creek with a primary purpose of recreation. Constructed in 1960, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 9 feet and stretches 400 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet. Despite being regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the dam boasts a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment.
With a maximum discharge capacity of 40 cubic feet per second and an uncontrolled spillway width of 20 feet, the Mason Wildlife Dam presents a moderate risk level. Although the last inspection was conducted in 1996, the dam remains in operation and its emergency action plan status is currently unknown. While the dam serves as a recreational area for the community, its management and maintenance are essential to ensure the safety of both the dam and the surrounding environment. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the importance of monitoring and addressing the potential risks associated with this critical infrastructure.
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 Mason Wildlife Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sycamore Creek At Holt Road Near Holt | 39 cfs | → |
| Sloan Creek Near Williamston | 2 cfs | → |
| Grand River Near Eaton Rapids | 1,400 cfs | → |
| Red Cedar River Near Williamston | 75 cfs | → |
| Red Cedar River At East Lansing | 163 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Lansing | 825 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mason Wildlife Dam.
Boat launches
- Gale Road Onondaga Township
- Tompkins Road Tompkins Township
- Mcarthur River Drive 998, Eaton Rapids
- Maplegrove Road 1028, Rives Township
- Moores River Drive Lansing
- Loveland Road Waterloo Village
Campgrounds
- Wheel Inn Campground
- Creekridge Campground
- Pleasant Lake
- Youth Haven Ranch
- Portage Lake - Waterloo State Rec Area
- Sugarloaf Lake - Waterloo State Rec Area
Track Mason Wildlife 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 Mason Wildlife Dam
Where does the data for Mason Wildlife 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 Mason Wildlife Dam.