Chestnut Lake Dam dam
Chestnut Lake Dam
Chestnut Lake Dam, located in Macomb, Michigan, is a gravity dam completed in 1968 primarily for recreational purposes. Situated on the Middle Branch Clinton River, this dam has a height of 15.6 feet and a hydraulic height of 15.2 feet, with a storage capacity of 100 acre-feet. The dam serves to create an 8.1-acre surface area for recreational activities, with a normal storage capacity of 36 acre-feet.
Managed by the local government, the Chestnut Lake Dam is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. With a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment, the dam poses minimal risk to the surrounding area. The last inspection in December 2019 deemed the structure to be in good standing, meeting regulatory guidelines and ensuring the safety of the community.
Despite its moderate risk assessment, the Chestnut Lake Dam remains a vital asset for the city of Macomb, offering a scenic recreational area for residents and visitors to enjoy. With controlled spillways and a maximum discharge capacity of 760 cubic feet per second, the dam provides a safe environment for water-based activities while contributing to the overall conservation and management of the local water resources.
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 Chestnut Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Stony Creek Near Washington | 23 cfs | → |
| Paint Creek At Rochester | 18 cfs | → |
| Clinton River At Sterling Heights | 202 cfs | → |
| Plum Brook At Utica | 6 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Clinton River At Macomb | 20 cfs | → |
| Clinton River At Auburn Hills | 77 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chestnut Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Oakland County
- Lakeville Lake, 460 Acres, Oakland County
- Cedar Key Drive 2375, Oakland County
- Canal Drive 41, Pontiac
- Lake St. Clair, Anchor Bay Hall Road, Macomb County
- Lake Oakland, 735 Acres, Oakland County
Campgrounds
- Ridgewood Campground
- Camp Rotary
- Addison Oaks County Park
- Pines Campsite
- Outpost Campsite
- Cherokee Campsite
Track Chestnut Lake 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 Chestnut Lake Dam
Where does the data for Chestnut Lake 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 Chestnut Lake Dam.