Taft Road Regional Detention Basin dam
Taft Road Regional Detention Basin
Located in Novi, Michigan, the Taft Road Regional Detention Basin plays a crucial role in flood risk reduction along the Walled Lk Branch River Rouge. Completed in 1990, this earth dam stands at a height of 11 feet and has a hydraulic height of 10.3 feet, with a length of 750 feet. With a maximum storage capacity of 96 acre-feet and a drainage area of 8.2 square miles, this structure helps mitigate potential flooding and protects the surrounding areas.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Michigan DEGLE, the Taft Road Regional Detention Basin is classified as having a low hazard potential and is deemed to be in satisfactory condition. Inspected every five years, the basin operates with an uncontrolled spillway type and has a maximum discharge capacity of 2250 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the structure serves as a critical defense against potential flooding events, showcasing the importance of proper water resource management and infrastructure in climate-vulnerable regions like Michigan.
As a key component in the flood risk reduction strategy for the region, the Taft Road Regional Detention Basin stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts between local governments and regulatory agencies in safeguarding communities from the impacts of extreme weather events. With its satisfactory condition and low hazard potential, this earth dam continues to serve its primary purpose effectively, highlighting the importance of maintaining and inspecting such structures to ensure their continued functionality in mitigating flood risks. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Taft Road Regional Detention Basin exemplifies the intersection of infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and community resilience in the face of changing climate dynamics.
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 Taft Road Regional Detention Basin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Upper River Rouge At Farmington | 24 cfs | → |
| Middle River Rouge At Plymouth | 40 cfs | → |
| Huron River At Milford | 73 cfs | → |
| Huron River Near New Hudson | 105 cfs | → |
| River Rouge At Southfield | 68 cfs | → |
| Middle River Rouge Near Garden City | 115 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Taft Road Regional Detention Basin.
Boat launches
- Longwood Court Northville Township
- Wolverine Lake, 241 Acres, Oakland County
- Kent Lake, 1000 Acres, Oakland County
- Hines Drive Livonia
- Union Lake, 465 Acres, Oakland County
- West Dawson Road 1790, Oakland County
Campgrounds
Track Taft Road Regional Detention Basin 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 Taft Road Regional Detention Basin
Where does the data for Taft Road Regional Detention Basin 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 Taft Road Regional Detention Basin.