Harris Dam dam
Harris Dam
Harris Dam, also known as Mount Pleasant Dam, is a private-owned structure located in Isabella, Michigan, along the Chippewa River. Built in 1870, this earth dam stands at 16 feet high and spans 490 feet in length, serving primarily for recreational purposes. With a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area, with a maximum discharge capability of 13,500 cubic feet per second.
Despite its age, Harris Dam has a low hazard potential and is currently not rated for its condition assessment. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 110 feet, ensuring the safe release of excess water during high flow events. While the risk assessment for the dam is moderate, it lacks updated emergency action plans and inundation maps, indicating a need for further risk management measures to be implemented.
Overall, Harris Dam stands as a historical landmark in the region, providing essential recreational opportunities while also serving as a vital component of water resource management along the Chippewa River. With its moderate risk assessment and low hazard potential, continued monitoring and maintenance efforts will be essential to ensure the long-term safety and functionality of this important infrastructure.
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 Harris Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chippewa River Near Mount Pleasant | 298 cfs | → |
| Pine River Near Midland | 376 cfs | → |
| South Branch Tobacco River Near Beaverton | 127 cfs | → |
| Tobacco River At Glidden Road At Beaverton | 373 cfs | → |
| Fish Creek Near Crystal | 31 cfs | → |
| Tittabawassee River At Midland | 1,560 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Harris Dam.
Boat launches
- South Meridian Road 4095, Union Township
- Stevenson Lake Boat Launch
- West Stevenson Lake Road Gilmore Township
- Hall Lake Boat Ramp
- Leppien Park
- Washington Road 4863, Grant Township
Campgrounds
- Coldwater Lake Family Park
- Herrick Rec Area
- Blanchard Millpond Park
- Pettit Park
- Black Creek State Forest Campground
- Black Creek - State Forest
Fishing spots
Track Harris 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 Harris Dam
Where does the data for Harris 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 Harris Dam.