Minnawanna Dam dam
Minnawanna Dam
Minnawanna Dam, located in Hadley, Michigan, along the South Branch Farmers Creek, is a state-regulated earth dam completed in 1963 for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 33 feet with a hydraulic height of 32.1 feet, the dam boasts a length of 1245 feet and a storage capacity of 900 acre-feet. With a surface area of 60 acres and a drainage area of 6.7 square miles, the dam plays a significant role in water resource management in the region.
The dam's spillway, which is uncontrolled and 27 feet wide, helps regulate the maximum discharge of 285 cubic feet per second. Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, the condition assessment in June 2019 deemed the dam to be in satisfactory condition. Regular inspections are conducted every four years to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure. While the risk assessment is moderate, with a rating of 3, there is no designated risk management plan in place at this time.
Overall, Minnawanna Dam serves as a vital recreational resource in Lapeer County, Michigan, while also playing a crucial role in water management and flood control along the South Branch Farmers Creek. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the proper maintenance and monitoring of dams like Minnawanna are essential to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the sustainability of the local ecosystem.
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 Minnawanna Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Farmers Creek Near Lapeer | 28 cfs | → |
| Kearsley Creek Near Davison | 52 cfs | → |
| Flint River Near Otisville | 268 cfs | → |
| South Branch Flint River Near Columbiaville | 180 cfs | → |
| Stony Creek Near Romeo | 13 cfs | → |
| East Pond Creek At Romeo | 15 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Minnawanna Dam.
Boat launches
- Minnawanna Lake, Metamora Hadley State Park, Lapeer County
- Big Fish Lake, 105 Acres, Lapeer County
- Lake Nepessing, 414 Acres, Lapeer County
- Sawmill Lake Road Hadley Township
- Squaw Lake Dnr Boat Launch
- F-All Visitors Loop Oakland County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Minnawanna 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 Minnawanna Dam
Where does the data for Minnawanna 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 Significant 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 Minnawanna Dam.