Midget Lake Dam dam
Midget Lake Dam
Midget Lake Dam, located in Lake, Michigan, is a private structure primarily used for recreation. This concrete dam stands at a height of 8 feet with a hydraulic height of 7 feet, serving as a tributary to Stronach Creek. With a storage capacity of 152 acre-feet and a surface area of 35 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow in the area.
Managed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), Midget Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and is considered to be in satisfactory condition as of its last inspection in September 2019. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 5 feet, ensuring proper water release during peak flow events. Despite its moderate risk assessment level, the structure is well-maintained and regularly inspected to meet regulatory standards and ensure public safety.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Midget Lake Dam serves as a vital component of the local ecosystem, providing recreational opportunities while also contributing to water management in the region. Its presence not only enhances the beauty of the area but also helps in maintaining a balanced water supply for various purposes. With a dedicated regulatory agency overseeing its operations, the dam stands as a testament to responsible infrastructure development in harmony with nature.
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 Midget Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Manistee River Near Wellston | 2,430 cfs | → |
| Pine River At High School Bridge Nr Hoxeyville | 289 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Mesick | 1,500 cfs | → |
| East Branch Pine River Near Tustin | 30 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Sherman | 1,660 cfs | → |
| Pere Marquette River At Scottville | 811 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Midget Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Casey Lane 6001, Elk Township
- Harper Lake Public Water Access Elk Township
- North Pine River Road Norman Township
- Pine Lake Road Norman Township
- Tippy Dam Pond Boat Ramp
- Dilling Road Dickson Township
Campgrounds
- Sand Lake Recreation Area
- Sand Lake - Manistee
- Dorner Lake
- Pine Lake Campground
- Pine Lake Recreation Area
- Bear Track Campground
Fishing spots
- Suicide Bend Fishing Site
- Log Mark Rest Stop Canoe And Fishing Landing
- Idlewild Lake
- Bar Lake - Lake Michigan - Bar Lake Outlet
- Lake Cadillac
- Lake Arcadia (Public Fishing Dock At Grebe Park)
Paddle runs
- Kings Road Bridge (2 Miles West Of Town Of Luther In T19n, R12w To Slackwater Of The State Fish Weir In T21n, R16w
- Southern Boundary Of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore To Mouth At Lake Michigan
- 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
- Southeastern Boundary Of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore To Northwetern Boundary Of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
- Croton Dam In T12n, R11w To City Of Newaygo In T12n, R12w
Track Midget 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 Midget Lake Dam
Where does the data for Midget 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 Midget Lake Dam.