Wolverine Lake Dam dam
Wolverine Lake Dam
Wolverine Lake Dam, located in Oakland County, Michigan, serves as a crucial structure for recreation purposes in the region. Completed in 1925, the dam stands at a height of 15 feet and stretches 800 feet in length. It boasts a storage capacity of 1560 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 960 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 241 acres.
Managed by the local government, the Wolverine Lake Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Despite being assessed as in fair condition during the last inspection in 2016, the dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential, with a very high risk assessment rating. This underscores the importance of regular maintenance and risk management measures to ensure the safety and security of the surrounding community and environment.
The dam features a controlled spillway type with a width of 15 feet, capable of handling a maximum discharge of 260 cubic feet per second. With its strategic location as a tributary to the Huron River, the Wolverine Lake Dam plays a vital role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the area. Enthusiasts and stakeholders in water resources and climate issues can appreciate the significance of this structure in balancing recreational needs with safety and environmental considerations.
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 Wolverine Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Huron River At Milford | 73 cfs | → |
| Upper River Rouge At Farmington | 9 cfs | → |
| Huron River Near New Hudson | 105 cfs | → |
| River Rouge At Southfield | 31 cfs | → |
| River Rouge At Birmingham | 13 cfs | → |
| Middle River Rouge At Plymouth | 40 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wolverine Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Wolverine Lake, 241 Acres, Oakland County
- Union Lake, 465 Acres, Oakland County
- Cedar Island Lake, 144 Acres, Oakland County
- Orchard Lake, 788 Acres, Oakland County
- Normanwood Circle 3807, West Bloomfield Township
- Elizabeth Lake Road Waterford Township
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Wolverine Lake 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 Wolverine Lake Dam
Where does the data for Wolverine Lake 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 Wolverine Lake Dam.