Rockford Dam dam
Rockford Dam
Rockford Dam, located in Kent County, Michigan, along the Rogue River, was completed in 1888 and serves primarily for recreational purposes. With a gravity-type design and a height of 19 feet, the dam offers a structural height of 19 feet as well as a hydraulic height of 18.9 feet. It has a capacity of 180 acre-feet of water storage, with a normal storage level of 110 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 6,100 cubic feet per second. The dam also features a controlled spillway with a width of 182 feet, ensuring efficient water flow management.
Maintained by the local government and regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), Rockford Dam poses a significant hazard potential but has been assessed as satisfactory in condition as of October 2020. Despite the risk, the dam has a very high risk assessment rating of 1, indicating the importance of monitoring and managing its operations closely. With a history dating back over a century, Rockford Dam remains a key landmark in the region, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in its engineering and environmental impact on the surrounding area.
For those interested in water resource management and climate resilience, Rockford Dam offers a fascinating case study in balancing recreational benefits with safety and regulatory compliance. With a rich history and ongoing inspection and enforcement measures in place, the dam serves as a reminder of the critical role that infrastructure plays in shaping our interaction with water resources. As efforts to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts continue to evolve, understanding the complexities of dams like Rockford becomes increasingly important for ensuring the sustainability of our water systems.
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 Rockford Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rogue River Near Rockford | 221 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Grand Rapids | 3,970 cfs | → |
| Little Muskegon River Near Oak Grove | 384 cfs | → |
| Muskegon River Near Croton | 2,320 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Ionia | 2,120 cfs | → |
| Fish Creek Near Crystal | 30 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rockford Dam.
Boat launches
- Indian Drive Northeast Plainfield Charter Township
- Access Street Northeast Algoma Township
- Knapp Street Northeast Ada Township
- Kenowa Avenue Northwest 7636, Alpine Township
- Miller Drive 195, Wright Township
- Grand Rapids Riverwalk East Grand Rapids
Campgrounds
- Wabasis Lake County Park
- Camp Greenwood
- Croton Township Park
- Ed H. Henning Park
- Bertha Brock County Park
- Ionia State Rec Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Morley Dam In T13n, R10w To Croton Dam Pond In T12n, R11w
- Croton Dam In T12n, R11w To City Of Newaygo In T12n, R12w
- 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
- Mainstem To Forest Boundary At North Section Line Of Sec 2, T13n, R15w (1.5 Miles West Of Herperia)
Track Rockford 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 Rockford Dam
Where does the data for Rockford 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 Rockford Dam.