Thompsonville Dam dam
Thompsonville Dam
Thompsonville Dam, also known as Washed Out, is a private earth dam located on the Betsie River in Elberta, Michigan. Built in 1901 for recreation purposes, this dam stands at a height of 20 feet and spans 300 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 165 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 1860 cubic feet per second, the dam serves as a popular spot for outdoor activities in Benzie County.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment, Thompsonville Dam has not been inspected since May 1989 and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of its condition assessment. With no emergency action plan in place and no state regulation or enforcement, the dam's safety and maintenance are somewhat uncertain. It is important for water resource and climate enthusiasts to stay informed about the status and potential risks associated with this structure, given its historical significance and recreational importance in the area.
In the absence of recent inspections and maintenance assessments, the future of Thompsonville Dam remains somewhat uncertain. With no state jurisdiction or permitting in place, it is essential for stakeholders and local authorities to prioritize the safety and upkeep of this iconic structure to ensure its longevity and continued contribution to the recreational and environmental landscape of the Betsie River.
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 Thompsonville Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Platte River At Honor | 159 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Mesick | 1,370 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Sherman | 1,560 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Wellston | 2,280 cfs | → |
| Pine River At High School Bridge Nr Hoxeyville | 277 cfs | → |
| Boardman R Above Brown Bridge Road Nr Mayfield | 201 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Thompsonville Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Healy Lake Boat Launch Springdale Township
- Healy Lake Campground Rd Springdale Township
- Glovers Lake Boat Ramp Pleasanton Township
- Crystal Lake -E, 9711 Acres, Benzie County
- Crystal Lake Boat Launch Frankfort
- Bronson Lake Access Almira Township
⛺ Campgrounds
- Grass Lake State Forest Campground
- Platte River State Forest Campground
- Interlochen Green Lake Rustic Campground
- Hopkins Park Rv Campground
- Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp - State Forest
- Fletcher Creek (Primitive)
🎣 Fishing spots
- Lake Dubonnet
- Lake Arcadia (Public Fishing Dock At Grebe Park)
- Betsie Lake
- Suicide Bend Fishing Site
- Boardman Lake
- Kids Creek
🛶 Paddle runs
- 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
- Kings Road Bridge (2 Miles West Of Town Of Luther In T19n, R12w To Slackwater Of The State Fish Weir In T21n, R16w
Track Thompsonville 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 Thompsonville Dam
Where does the data for Thompsonville 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 Thompsonville Dam.