Lower Michigan dam
Lower Michigan
Lower Michigan, also known as Bartles Lake, is a private fish and wildlife pond located in Park, Colorado. This Earth dam, standing at 20 feet high and 210 feet long, was completed in 1889 and serves as a recreational spot in the area. With a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet, it primarily caters to fish and wildlife preservation, making it a haven for nature enthusiasts and climate advocates.
Managed by the Colorado Department of Water Resources, Lower Michigan is regulated and inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is rated as fair in condition assessment, with a moderate risk level (3) identified. With a controlled spillway and uncontrolled spillway type, the dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 65 cubic feet per second, ensuring the efficient release of excess water during heavy rain or flooding events.
Visitors to Lower Michigan can enjoy its serene surroundings and recreational activities, while also appreciating the efforts put into its maintenance and management. The dam's historical significance, combined with its ecological importance, makes it a valuable asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts 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 Lower Michigan -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tarryall Creek At Upper Station | 8 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Blue River | 38 cfs | → |
| Monte Cristo Diversion Near Hoosier Pass | · | → |
| Mccullough-Sp-Diversion Near Hoosier Pass | · | → |
| Bemrose-Hoosier Diversion Near Hoosier Pass | 2 cfs | → |
| Keystone Gulch Near Dillon | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Michigan.
Boat launches
- Tarryall Road Park County
- Turquoise Lake Trail Lake County
- Matchless Boating Site
- Homestake Reservoir Boat Ramp Day Use Area
Campgrounds
- Michigan Creek Campground
- Michigan Creek
- Jefferson Creek
- Jefferson Creek Campground
- Aspen
- Lodgepole - Jefferson
Fishing spots
Track Lower Michigan 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 Lower Michigan
Where does the data for Lower Michigan 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 Lower Michigan.