Swan Creek Dam dam
Swan Creek Dam
Swan Creek Dam, located in Allegan, Michigan, was completed in 1937 and serves primarily for recreational purposes. This Earth dam stands at a height of 22 feet and has a hydraulic height of 16.6 feet, with a length of 660 feet. It has a maximum storage capacity of 2200 acre-feet, with a normal storage of 560 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 140 acres. The dam is situated on Swan Creek and is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE).
With a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Swan Creek Dam has a moderate risk rating. The spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 24 feet. The dam undergoes inspections every five years, with the most recent one conducted in October 2019. The dam poses a moderate risk (3) and is under the jurisdiction of the State of Michigan, ensuring proper permitting, inspection, and enforcement measures are in place to manage any potential risks. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate may find Swan Creek Dam an intriguing structure to study, given its historical significance and the role it plays in the local ecosystem.
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 Swan Creek 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 | → |
| Rabbit River Near Hopkins | 50 cfs | → |
| Macatawa River At State Road Near Zeeland | 21 cfs | → |
| South Branch Black River Near Bangor | 69 cfs | → |
| West Fork Portage Creek Near Oshtemo | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Swan Creek Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Hutchins Lake Boat Launch
- Hacklander Boating Access Site Saugatuck Township
- Schultz Park Boating Access Site Douglas
- Bayou Street 87, Douglas
- 65th Street 3698, Laketown Township
- County Road 380 47089, Columbia Township
⛺ Campgrounds
- Ely Lake Campground
- Tri-Ponds Family Camp Resort
- Silver Creek Campground
- Brookside City Park
- Youth Campground
- Van Buren State Park
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →Track Swan Creek 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 Swan Creek Dam
Where does the data for Swan Creek 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 Swan Creek Dam.