Henkin Pond Dam dam
Henkin Pond Dam
Henkin Pond Dam, located in Custer, Michigan, was completed in 1966 with a primary purpose of recreation. This earth dam stands at 18 feet in height and spans 300 feet, creating a storage capacity of 66 acre-feet. Situated on a tributary to Freeman Creek, the dam's low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment make it an intriguing structure for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore.
Managed by a private owner, Henkin Pond Dam has not been subject to state regulation or inspection. Despite its age, the dam's condition has not been rated, and it has not undergone any recent modifications or emergency action plan updates. With a spillway width of 5 feet and a maximum discharge of 36 cubic feet per second, the dam poses minimal risk to the surrounding area, making it a relatively safe and stable structure for recreational use and environmental observation.
While Henkin Pond Dam may not be a high-profile water resource project, its unique design and location in Newaygo County, Michigan, offer an opportunity for enthusiasts to study the intersection of dam infrastructure, climate, and environmental conservation. As a low-hazard dam with a history dating back to the 1960s, Henkin Pond Dam presents a case study in the importance of ongoing risk assessment and management for sustainable water resource development.
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 Henkin Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pere Marquette River At Scottville | 805 cfs | → |
| White River Near Whitehall | 516 cfs | → |
| Muskegon River Near Croton | 2,260 cfs | → |
| Little Muskegon River Near Oak Grove | 244 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Near Muskegon | 17 cfs | → |
| Pine River At High School Bridge Nr Hoxeyville | 283 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Henkin Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Nfs 5536 Lilley Township
- Nfs 5140-A Merrill Township
- Nfs 6902 Merrill Township
- Peskin Drive Newfield Township
- Nagek Drive Merrill Township
- Nfs 5163 Sweetwater Township
Campgrounds
- Walkup Lake Campground
- Nichols Lake South Campground
- Nichols Lake
- Kenosha Lake
- Condon Lake
- Condon Lakes West
Fishing spots
- St. Hubert Angler Parking
- Log Mark Rest Stop Canoe And Fishing Landing
- Idlewild Lake
- Pere Marquette River
- Fishing Peir
- Blanch Lake
Paddle runs
- 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
- Croton Dam In T12n, R11w To City Of Newaygo In T12n, R12w
- Mainstem To Forest Boundary At North Section Line Of Sec 2, T13n, R15w (1.5 Miles West Of Herperia)
- Morley Dam In T13n, R10w To Croton Dam Pond In T12n, R11w
- Kings Road Bridge (2 Miles West Of Town Of Luther In T19n, R12w To Slackwater Of The State Fish Weir In T21n, R16w
Track Henkin Pond 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 Henkin Pond Dam
Where does the data for Henkin Pond 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 Henkin Pond Dam.