Fowle Mill Dam dam
Fowle Mill Dam
Fowle Mill Dam, also known as Truitt Mill Pond, is a historic earth dam located in Hillsdale, Michigan, along the South Branch Kalamazoo River. Built in 1852, this dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering opportunities for activities such as fishing and boating. With a dam height of 9 feet and a length of 100 feet, it has a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet and a surface area of 3 acres.
Despite its age, Fowle Mill Dam has a low hazard potential and is currently designated as "Not Rated" in terms of its condition assessment. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 12 feet, and it poses a moderate risk, according to risk assessment data. The dam is privately owned and not regulated by the state, with no recent inspection records available since the early 1900s.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Fowle Mill Dam represents a piece of Michigan's historical infrastructure that continues to provide recreational opportunities while serving as a reminder of our past engineering achievements. The dam's location in the picturesque city of Moscow, surrounded by the natural beauty of the South Branch Kalamazoo River, makes it a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts seeking a tranquil escape in the heart of nature.
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 Fowle Mill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Branch Hog Creek Near Allen | 40 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Jackson | 100 cfs | → |
| River Raisin Near Manchester | 23 cfs | → |
| Kalamazoo River Near Marengo | 278 cfs | → |
| West Branch St. Joseph River Nr Nettle Lake | 67 cfs | → |
| Bean Creek At Powers Oh | 158 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fowle Mill Dam.
Boat launches
- Round Lake Road 1208, Liberty Township
- Steves Scenic Drive Liberty Township
- Lime Lake Park Township Of Spring Arbor
- Pulaski Road 7400, Pulaski Township
- Falling Waters Trail Township Of Spring Arbor
- Avenue C Street 300, Vandercook Lake
Campgrounds
- Wildwood Acres Campground
- Swains Lake
- Lake Hudson Semi-Modern Campground
- Lake Hudson State Rec Area
- W. J. Hayes State Park
- Marble Lake County Park
Track Fowle 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 Fowle Mill Dam
Where does the data for Fowle 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 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 Fowle Mill Dam.