Otter Lake Dam dam
Otter Lake Dam
Otter Lake Dam, also known as Sturgeon River Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Chassell, Michigan. Built in 1978, this gravity dam stands at a height of 12 feet and stretches 145 feet in length, with a maximum storage capacity of 4,272 acre-feet. Situated on the Sturgeon River, it serves multiple purposes beyond flood control, with a surface area of 935 acres and a normal storage capacity of 3,560 acre-feet.
Managed by Michigan's DEGLE agency, the dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state, ensuring its structural integrity and safety. With a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of June 2019, Otter Lake Dam poses a moderate risk level according to the Risk Assessment rating. The spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 120 feet, and the dam has an emergency action plan in place, although details on its last revision date and adherence to guidelines are not provided in the data.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts would find Otter Lake Dam an intriguing structure to study, given its location on the scenic Sturgeon River and its significant impact on the surrounding area's water management. With its unique design, operational features, and risk profile, the dam serves as a vital piece of infrastructure in Houghton County, Michigan, contributing to both water storage and flood protection efforts in the region.
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 Otter Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Silver River Near L'Anse | 61 cfs | → |
| Sturgeon River Near Alston | 491 cfs | → |
| Trap Rock River Near Lake Linden | 86 cfs | → |
| Sturgeon River Near Sidnaw | 167 cfs | → |
| Ontonagon River Near Rockland | 840 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Escanaba River At Humboldt | 71 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Otter Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Myllyia Road Portage Township
- Manninen Road Portage Township
- Sturgeon River Road Chassell Township
- Us 41 Chassell Township
- White City Road Torch Lake Township
- Fisherman's Lane Chassell Township
Campgrounds
- L'Anse Township Park Campground
- Lanse Township Park
- Baraga State Park
- Hancock Recreation Area
- Emily Lake State Forest
- Emily Lake State Forest Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- From Wagner Lake In Sec 13, T49n, R31w To Eastern Boundary Of The Ottawa Nf In Sec 12, T48n, R35@
- West Branch Net River, From Its Source In Sec 35, T48n, R34w To Confluence With Mainstem Net River In Sec 24, T46n, R34w
- East Branch Net River, From Its Source In Sec 8, T47n, R32w To Confluence With Mainstem Net River In Sec 24, T46n, R34w
- South Branch,Confluence Of Cisco Branch And Tenmile Creek To Confluence With West Branch
- Net River Mainstem, Confluence With East/West Branches To Confluence With The Mainstem Paint River
- West Branch, Mi State Highway 28 To Cascade Falls
Track Otter 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 Otter Lake Dam
Where does the data for Otter 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 Otter Lake Dam.