Sunny Brook Dam dam
Sunny Brook Dam
Sunny Brook Dam, located in Wellston, Michigan, was completed in 1890 and stands at a height of 8 feet with a length of 690 feet. It serves the primary purpose of water resource management on Pine Creek, offering a normal storage capacity of 30 acre-feet. The dam, classified as an Earth type structure, has a low hazard potential and is currently in satisfactory condition as per the last assessment in 2000.
Managed by a private owner, Sunny Brook Dam is regulated by the Michigan DEGLE and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and functionality. With a moderate risk assessment score of 3, the dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures are currently undisclosed. Despite its uncontrolled spillway and limited associated structures, Sunny Brook Dam remains a crucial asset for water storage and flow control in Manistee County, Michigan. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate in the area can appreciate the historical significance and ongoing importance of this vital 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 Sunny Brook Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Manistee River Near Wellston | 2,430 cfs | → |
| Pine River At High School Bridge Nr Hoxeyville | 289 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Mesick | 1,500 cfs | → |
| East Branch Pine River Near Tustin | 30 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Sherman | 1,660 cfs | → |
| Pere Marquette River At Scottville | 811 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sunny Brook Dam.
Boat launches
- Casey Lane 6001, Elk Township
- North Pine River Road Norman Township
- Tippy Dam Pond Boat Ramp
- Harper Lake Public Water Access Elk Township
- Pine Lake Road Norman Township
- Government Landing Access Dickson Township
Campgrounds
- Sand Lake Recreation Area
- Sand Lake - Manistee
- Dorner Lake
- Pine Lake Campground
- Pine Lake Recreation Area
- Peterson Bridge
Fishing spots
- Suicide Bend Fishing Site
- Log Mark Rest Stop Canoe And Fishing Landing
- Idlewild Lake
- Bar Lake - Lake Michigan - Bar Lake Outlet
- Lake Cadillac
- Lake Arcadia (Public Fishing Dock At Grebe Park)
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
- 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
- Southeastern Boundary Of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore To Northwetern Boundary Of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
- Croton Dam In T12n, R11w To City Of Newaygo In T12n, R12w
Track Sunny Brook 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 Sunny Brook Dam
Where does the data for Sunny Brook 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 Sunny Brook Dam.