Henson Dam dam
Henson Dam
Henson Dam, located in Marathon Township, Michigan, is a privately owned earth dam built in 1999 primarily for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 27 feet with a hydraulic height of 10.5 feet, this dam boasts a storage capacity of 800 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 66 acres. It is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Henson Dam poses a moderate risk due to its location in Lapeer County, Michigan. The dam's uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 2 feet, contributes to its risk assessment rating of 3 out of 5. The dam has a drainage area of 0.15 square miles and is a tributary to Hemingway Lake. With a history of regular inspections and adherence to regulatory guidelines, Henson Dam remains a vital resource for both water management and climate enthusiasts in the region.
Overall, Henson Dam serves as a crucial recreational resource in the area, offering opportunities for outdoor activities and water-based recreation. Its stable condition, regulated oversight, and moderate risk assessment underscore its importance in managing water resources and adapting to climate challenges in a sustainable manner. As a privately owned structure, Henson Dam stands as a testament to the collaboration between private entities and state agencies in ensuring the safety and functionality of essential water 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 Henson Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Branch Flint River Near Columbiaville | 173 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Otisville | 299 cfs | → |
| Farmers Creek Near Lapeer | 29 cfs | → |
| Kearsley Creek Near Davison | 52 cfs | → |
| Cass River At Frankenmuth | 330 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Flint | 413 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Henson Dam.
Boat launches
- Holloway Reservoir, 2000 Acres, Lapeer County
- Buell Lake, Genesee County
- Mott Lake -E, 650 Acres, Genesee County
- Blue Gill Boat Launch
- Long Lake, 204 Acres, Lapeer County
- Lake Nepessing, 414 Acres, Lapeer County
Campgrounds
- Otter Lake Park
- Wolverine
- Arthur Latham Park
- Metamora - Hadley Rec Area
- Old Family Camp Site - Not Rentable
- Paul Bunyon
Fishing spots
Track Henson 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 Henson Dam
Where does the data for Henson 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 Henson Dam.