Big Lake Level Control Dam dam
Big Lake Level Control Dam
The Big Lake Level Control Dam in Osceola, Michigan, is a privately owned structure that plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. Completed in 1982, this dam has a hydraulic height of 10.5 feet and a Normal Storage capacity of 550 acre-feet, with a total storage capacity of 1100 acre-feet. It is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), ensuring that it meets state standards for inspection, enforcement, and permitting.
Situated on a tributary to Thorn Creek, the Big Lake Level Control Dam helps to regulate water levels and maintain the ecological balance in the region. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, this dam is an essential piece of infrastructure for water resource management. While it does not have a spillway, it effectively controls the flow of water to prevent flooding and maintain water quality for the surrounding area.
Despite not being federally owned, the Big Lake Level Control Dam is an important asset for the community, providing essential water management services. With its strategic location and effective design, this dam serves as a critical tool for climate enthusiasts and water resource managers alike, showcasing the importance of localized infrastructure in addressing climate change and ensuring sustainable water use for future generations.
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 Big Lake Level Control Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Muskegon River At Evart | 1,510 cfs | → |
| East Branch Pine River Near Tustin | 30 cfs | → |
| Clam River At Vogel Center | 229 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River Near Mount Pleasant | 274 cfs | → |
| South Branch Tobacco River Near Beaverton | 112 cfs | → |
| Little Muskegon River Near Oak Grove | 241 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Big Lake Level Control Dam.
Boat launches
- Birch Grove Road 5177, Orient Township
- River Street 318, Evart
- South Shore Drive 11340, Garfield Township
- Trails End Road 8817, Garfield Township
- Grant Township
Campgrounds
- Crittenden County Park
- Merrill Lake Park
- Hillside Campground
- Sulak
- Mud Lake State Forest Campground
- Big Mud Lake - State Forest
Fishing spots
- Lake To The Hills
- Fishing Peir
- Deerfield County Park Swimming Pond
- Lake Cadillac
- Idlewild 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
- Kings Road Bridge (2 Miles West Of Town Of Luther In T19n, R12w To Slackwater Of The State Fish Weir In T21n, R16w
- North Branch From Its Confluence With South Branch In Sec 22, T13n, R16 W To Mclaren Lake In Sec 11, T14n, R15w
Track Big Lake Level Control 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 Big Lake Level Control Dam
Where does the data for Big Lake Level Control 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 Big Lake Level Control Dam.