Silver Valley Ponds Dam dam
Silver Valley Ponds Dam
Silver Valley Ponds Dam, also known as Harbour Lake Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Allegan, Michigan. Built in 1963, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 27.3 feet and serves various purposes, with a normal storage capacity of 40 acre-feet. Situated on Tannery Creek, the dam is designed for a low hazard potential and is currently assessed to be in fair condition.
The dam's spillway, with a width of 50 feet, is uncontrolled, allowing for a maximum discharge of 662 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam has not been modified in recent years and is inspected every five years to ensure its safety and functionality. With a drainage area of 1.6 square miles and a surface area of 7 acres, Silver Valley Ponds Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Managed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), the dam is subject to state regulations, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. With its strategic location and key role in water storage and management, Silver Valley Ponds Dam stands as a vital infrastructure for the community of Douglas and surrounding areas, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Silver Valley Ponds Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo River Near New Richmond | 4,480 cfs | → |
| Kalamazoo River At New Richmond | 2,130 cfs | → |
| Macatawa River At State Road Near Zeeland | 21 cfs | → |
| South Branch Black River Near Bangor | 69 cfs | → |
| Rabbit River Near Hopkins | 50 cfs | → |
| Paw Paw River At Riverside | 460 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Silver Valley Ponds Dam.
Boat launches
- Bayou Street 87, Douglas
- Schultz Park Boating Access Site Douglas
- Hacklander Boating Access Site Saugatuck Township
- 65th Street 3698, Laketown Township
- Hutchins Lake Boat Launch
- Lake Macatawa Boating Access Site Park Township
Campgrounds
- Ely Lake Campground
- Silver Creek Campground
- Tri-Ponds Family Camp Resort
- Van Buren State Park
- Youth Campground
- Covert Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Silver Valley Ponds 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 Silver Valley Ponds Dam
Where does the data for Silver Valley Ponds 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 Silver Valley Ponds Dam.