Beckwith Dam dam
Beckwith Dam
Beckwith Dam, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, serves as a critical structure for flood risk reduction along a tributary to Lamberton Creek. Completed in 1999, this private-owned earth dam stands at a height of 27.7 feet and has a hydraulic height of 18.9 feet, providing important protection to the surrounding area. With a normal storage capacity of 23 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 124 acre-feet, Beckwith Dam plays a vital role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Beckwith Dam is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Its uncontrolled spillway and moderate risk assessment underline the importance of proper monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and effectiveness of this flood risk reduction structure. The dam's location in Kent County, Michigan, highlights its significance in safeguarding the local community from potential flooding events.
In the event of an emergency, it is crucial for Beckwith Dam to have an effective Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place to guide appropriate responses. While details on the EAP status are currently unavailable, ongoing risk management measures and regular inspections contribute to the overall resilience of Beckwith Dam. As a key component of water resource infrastructure in the area, this dam serves as a testament to the importance of proactive monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential risks and protect the surrounding environment and community.
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 Beckwith Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Grand River At Grand Rapids | 4,000 cfs | → |
| Rogue River Near Rockford | 239 cfs | → |
| Rabbit River Near Hopkins | 46 cfs | → |
| Macatawa River At State Road Near Zeeland | 19 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Ionia | 1,990 cfs | → |
| Little Muskegon River Near Oak Grove | 244 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Beckwith Dam.
Boat launches
- Barnard Street Southeast East Grand Rapids
- Grand Rapids Riverwalk East Grand Rapids
- Knapp Street Northeast Ada Township
- Indian Drive Northeast Plainfield Charter Township
- Boating Access Site Ada Township
- Veterans Memorial Drive Southwest Walker
Campgrounds
- Wabasis Lake County Park
- Camp Greenwood
- Ionia State Rec Area
- Bertha Brock County Park
- Ionia Equestrian-Rustic
- Gun Lake - Yankee Springs State Rec Area
Fishing spots
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
- North Branch From Its Confluence With South Branch In Sec 22, T13n, R16 W To Mclaren Lake In Sec 11, T14n, R15w
- 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
- Mainstem To Forest Boundary At North Section Line Of Sec 2, T13n, R15w (1.5 Miles West Of Herperia)
Track Beckwith 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 Beckwith Dam
Where does the data for Beckwith 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 Beckwith Dam.