Brandy Brook Dam dam
Brandy Brook Dam
Brandy Brook Dam, located in Cadillac, Michigan, is a federally owned structure managed by the Forest Service for the primary purpose of supporting fish and wildlife in the area. Completed in 1964, this earth dam stands at a height of 8 feet and has a hydraulic height of 7 feet, with a length of 465 feet. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 60 acre-feet, with a maximum storage of 120 acre-feet.
The dam, situated on Brandy Creek, is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE) and undergoes regular state inspections and enforcement measures. Despite being rated as having a low hazard potential, it is still considered to have a moderate risk level due to its condition being not rated. The last inspection of the dam took place in October 2019, with a scheduled inspection frequency of 10 years.
While Brandy Brook Dam serves a critical function in supporting the local ecosystem, its risk level and condition assessment highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued safety and effectiveness. Climate and water resource enthusiasts will find this dam to be a fascinating case study in the intersection of infrastructure, environmental protection, and risk management in the face of changing climatic conditions.
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 Brandy Brook Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Branch Pine River Near Tustin | 47 cfs | → |
| Pine River At High School Bridge Nr Hoxeyville | 307 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Sherman | 1,590 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Mesick | 1,510 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Wellston | 2,560 cfs | → |
| Clam River At Vogel Center | 245 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brandy Brook Dam.
Boat launches
- Cadillac Highway Cadillac
- North Boulevard Cadillac
- North 27 Road Colfax Township
- East 44 Road 11359, Clam Lake Township
- East 24 3/4 Road Haring Township
- Newkirk Township
Campgrounds
- Hemlock Campground And Boat Launch
- Hemlock Campground
- Mitchell State Park
- Colfax Township Campground
- Ravine
- Long Lake Campground
Fishing spots
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
- 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
- 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
Track Brandy Brook 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 Brandy Brook Dam
Where does the data for Brandy Brook 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 Brandy Brook Dam.