Babcocks Pond Dam dam
Babcocks Pond Dam
Babcocks Pond Dam, also known as Marstons Dam, is a private earth dam located in Blanchard, Michigan. Completed in 1973, the dam serves primarily for recreational purposes and has a structural height of 18 feet and a length of 210 feet. It holds a maximum storage capacity of 66 acre-feet and has a normal storage level of 44 acre-feet, with a surface area of 9 acres and a drainage area of 0.3 square miles.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is currently in poor condition according to a condition assessment conducted in 1997. It has an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 6 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 15 cubic feet per second. The dam is under the jurisdiction of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), which regulates its operation, inspection, and enforcement.
While Babcocks Pond Dam poses a moderate risk, with a risk assessment rating of 3, the dam lacks an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and updated emergency contacts. The last inspection was conducted in 1997 with a scheduled inspection frequency of 5 years. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to monitor the condition of Babcocks Pond Dam and advocate for proper maintenance and risk management measures to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment.
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 Babcocks Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fish Creek Near Crystal | 28 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Mount Pleasant | 235 cfs | → |
| Little Muskegon River Near Oak Grove | 212 cfs | → |
| Muskegon River At Evart | 1,490 cfs | → |
| Muskegon River Near Croton | 2,550 cfs | → |
| Maple River At Maple Rapids | 146 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Babcocks Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Hall Lake Boat Ramp
- Belvidere Township
- Midway Walk 399, Belvidere Township
- South Meridian Road 4095, Union Township
- West Rosebush Road Sherman Township
- 105th Avenue Morton Township
Campgrounds
- Blanchard Millpond Park
- Bass Beach Campground
- School Section Lake Park
- Coldwater Lake Family Park
- Canadian Lakes Campground
- Tubbs Lake State Forest Campground
Fishing spots
- Deerfield County Park Swimming Pond
- Lake To The Hills
- Fishing Peir
- Baptist Lake
- Bostwick Lake
- Cedar River
Paddle runs
- Morley Dam In T13n, R10w To Croton Dam Pond In T12n, R11w
- Croton Dam In T12n, R11w To City Of Newaygo In T12n, R12w
- South Branch From Forest Boundary East Of Hesperia At West Section Line Of Sec 22, T14n, R14w To Echo Drive In Sec 6, T13n, R12w
- North Branch From Its Confluence With South Branch In Sec 22, T13n, R16 W To Mclaren Lake In Sec 11, T14n, R15w
Track Babcocks Pond 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 Babcocks Pond Dam
Where does the data for Babcocks Pond 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 Babcocks Pond Dam.