Peters Bayou Dam dam
Peters Bayou Dam
Peters Bayou Dam, also known as the Manistee Game Area Dam, is a state-owned structure located in Manistee, Michigan along the Manistee River. Built in 1969, this earth dam stands at a height of 12 feet with a hydraulic height of 7.5 feet and a length of 5400 feet. It serves a variety of purposes beyond flood control, with a normal storage capacity of 10 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 595 acre-feet.
The dam has a low hazard potential and is classified as being in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in September 2020. It is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE). The risk assessment for Peters Bayou Dam is moderate, with a rating of 3 out of 5, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and management measures to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
Located in a picturesque setting within the Manistee Game Area, Peters Bayou Dam provides not only flood protection but also recreational opportunities for visitors. With its serene surroundings and important role in water resource management, the dam serves as a noteworthy landmark for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the ecological and engineering aspects of dam infrastructure.
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 Peters Bayou Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Manistee River Near Wellston | 2,560 cfs | → |
| Pere Marquette River At Scottville | 821 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Mesick | 1,510 cfs | → |
| Pine River At High School Bridge Nr Hoxeyville | 307 cfs | → |
| Platte River At Honor | 192 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Sherman | 1,590 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Peters Bayou Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Manistee Lake -E, 930 Acres, Manistee County
- Manistee Lake -N, 930 Acres, Manistee County
- Manistee Lake -S, 930 Acres, Manistee County
- Rainbow Bend Access Site
- River Road Brown Township
- Portage Lake (To Lake Michigan), Onekama, Manistee County
⛺ Campgrounds
- Lake Michigan Recreation Area
- Blacksmith Bayou Campground
- Hopkins Park Rv Campground
- Pine Lake Recreation Area
- Pine Lake Campground
- Bear Track Campground
🎣 Fishing spots
- Bar Lake - Lake Michigan - Bar Lake Outlet
- Lake Arcadia (Public Fishing Dock At Grebe Park)
- Hamlin Lake
- Suicide Bend Fishing Site
- Big Sable River
- Pere Marquette River
🛶 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
- Southeastern Boundary Of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore To Northwetern Boundary Of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
- 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
Track Peters Bayou 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 Peters Bayou Dam
Where does the data for Peters Bayou 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 Peters Bayou Dam.