Lake Laura Dam dam
Lake Laura Dam
Lake Laura Dam, located in Altona, Michigan, is a privately owned structure built in 1981 primarily for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 10 feet with a length of 640 feet, this earth dam holds a storage capacity of 110 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 20 acres. Situated on the Tr-W Br Little Muskegon River, the dam is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its satisfactory condition and low hazard potential.
Despite its low hazard potential, Lake Laura Dam is subject to moderate risk assessment due to its location and design features. The dam has an uncontrolled spillway type with a width of 2 feet, and it has not been modified in recent years. Emergency action plans and risk management measures are yet to be fully implemented, indicating potential areas for improvement in ensuring the safety and security of the surrounding community in case of a dam failure. With a five-year inspection frequency, the dam remains a vital structure for recreation and water resource management in Mecosta County.
In the event of any emergency or risk mitigation efforts, it is essential for the owners and regulatory agencies to work collaboratively to update and implement emergency action plans that align with established guidelines. By addressing the moderate risk assessment and potential hazard concerns through proactive measures, Lake Laura Dam can continue to serve its primary purpose of recreation while safeguarding the environment and community it supports along the Tr-W Br Little Muskegon River.
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 Lake Laura Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Muskegon River Near Oak Grove | 244 cfs | → |
| Muskegon River Near Croton | 2,260 cfs | → |
| Muskegon River At Evart | 1,540 cfs | → |
| Fish Creek Near Crystal | 30 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Mount Pleasant | 283 cfs | → |
| Rogue River Near Rockford | 239 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Laura Dam.
Boat launches
- 105th Avenue Morton Township
- Morton Township
- Belvidere Township
- Hall Lake Boat Ramp
- Midway Walk 399, Belvidere Township
- 205th Avenue Mecosta Township
Campgrounds
- Canadian Lakes Campground
- School Section Lake Park
- Bass Beach Campground
- Blanchard Millpond Park
- Tubbs Lake State Forest Campground
- Cran-Hill Ranch
Fishing spots
- Fishing Peir
- Lake To The Hills
- Deerfield County Park Swimming Pond
- Baptist Lake
- Blanch Lake
- Bostwick Lake
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
- Mainstem To Forest Boundary At North Section Line Of Sec 2, T13n, R15w (1.5 Miles West Of Herperia)
Track Lake Laura 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 Lake Laura Dam
Where does the data for Lake Laura 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 Lake Laura Dam.