Westdale Family Dam dam
Westdale Family Dam
Located in Ada, Michigan, the Westdale Family Dam, also known as the Honey Creek Dam, was completed in 1974 primarily for recreational purposes. This private earth dam spans 275 feet in length and stands at a height of 21 feet, offering a serene setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy water activities. With a storage capacity of 53 acre-feet, the dam serves as a popular spot for fishing, boating, and other leisurely pursuits, attracting visitors from the surrounding Kent County area.
Situated on a tributary to Honey Creek, this dam is regulated by the state of Michigan and falls under the jurisdiction of the Chicago District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the Westdale Family Dam has not been recently inspected or assessed for its condition. While it has not been deemed a significant concern, the dam's emergency action plan and risk management measures are not currently up-to-date, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and longevity of this recreational structure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Westdale Family Dam offers a picturesque setting to appreciate the intersection of human infrastructure with natural waterways. As a privately owned recreational dam, it provides a valuable space for outdoor recreation while also serving as a reminder of the importance of responsible dam management and maintenance to mitigate potential risks and ensure the safety of both visitors and the surrounding environment.
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 Westdale Family Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rogue River Near Rockford | 237 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Grand Rapids | 3,810 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Ionia | 1,970 cfs | → |
| Rabbit River Near Hopkins | 47 cfs | → |
| Thornapple River Near Hastings | 269 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Portland | 1,060 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Westdale Family Dam.
Boat launches
- Boating Access Site Ada Township
- Knapp Street Northeast Ada Township
- Barnard Street Southeast East Grand Rapids
- Indian Drive Northeast Plainfield Charter Township
- Cascade Road Southeast 14216, Lowell Charter Township
- Grand Rapids Riverwalk East Grand Rapids
Campgrounds
- Wabasis Lake County Park
- Ionia State Rec Area
- Camp Greenwood
- Bertha Brock County Park
- Ionia Equestrian-Rustic
- Tyden City Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Morley Dam In T13n, R10w To Croton Dam Pond In T12n, R11w
- Croton Dam In T12n, R11w To City Of Newaygo In T12n, R12w
- 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)
Track Westdale Family 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 Westdale Family Dam
Where does the data for Westdale Family 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 Westdale Family Dam.