West Shore Community College Dam dam
West Shore Community College Dam
The West Shore Community College Dam in Sugar Grove, Michigan, is a privately owned structure regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Completed in 1972, this earth dam stands at a height of 22 feet and spans 200 feet across the South Branch Lincoln River. With a primary purpose of recreation, the dam provides a storage capacity of 88 acre-feet and has a low hazard potential.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam has a moderate risk assessment due to its age and the potential impact of a breach on downstream areas. The last inspection in 2015 deemed the structure to be in satisfactory condition, but regular monitoring and maintenance are crucial to ensure its continued safety and functionality. With a maximum discharge capacity of 215 cubic feet per second and an uncontrolled spillway, the West Shore Community College Dam plays a vital role in water resource management and flood control in the region.
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 West Shore Community College Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pere Marquette River At Scottville | 811 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Wellston | 2,710 cfs | → |
| Pine River At High School Bridge Nr Hoxeyville | 314 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Mesick | 1,740 cfs | → |
| White River Near Whitehall | 490 cfs | → |
| East Branch Pine River Near Tustin | 53 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Shore Community College Dam.
Boat launches
- Co Rd To Twp Park 5499, Victory Township
- Fs 5540 Grant Township
- Hamlin Lake -S, 5350 Acres, Mason County
- Stearns Drive Ludington
- South Lakeshore Drive Ludington
- Hamlin Lake -W, 5350 Acres, Mason County
Campgrounds
- Cartier Park Campground
- Lake Michigan Recreation Area
- Beechwood Campground
- Cedars Campground
- Pines Campground
- Jack Pine Walk-In Campground
Fishing spots
- Hamlin Lake
- Pere Marquette River
- Big Sable River
- Log Mark Rest Stop Canoe And Fishing Landing
- Bar Lake - Lake Michigan - Bar Lake Outlet
- Suicide Bend Fishing Site
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
- 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)
- Croton Dam In T12n, R11w To City Of Newaygo In T12n, R12w
- Southern Boundary Of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore To Mouth At Lake Michigan
Track West Shore Community College 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 West Shore Community College Dam
Where does the data for West Shore Community College 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 West Shore Community College Dam.