Buchanan dam
Buchanan
Buchanan is a hydroelectric dam located in Berrien Springs, Michigan, along the St Joseph River. Built in 1895, this gravity dam stands at 23 feet high with a hydraulic height of 13.3 feet, serving the primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation. With a normal storage capacity of 3,895 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 36,814 cubic feet per second, Buchanan plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
Managed by a public utility, Buchanan is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and undergoes inspections to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam has a controlled spillway with a width of 387 feet and features outlet gates including bascule and slide gates. Despite its high hazard potential, the condition assessment of Buchanan is currently not available, indicating a need for further evaluation and risk management measures to ensure its long-term viability in the face of climate change and increasing water resource demands.
As a historic structure with significant implications for water resource management and climate resilience, Buchanan stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable infrastructure development. Through regular inspections, risk assessments, and proactive risk management measures, this hydroelectric dam can continue to contribute to the region's energy needs while safeguarding the surrounding environment and communities from potential hazards. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Buchanan serves as a case study in the intersection of infrastructure, sustainability, and resilience in the face of a changing climate.
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 Buchanan -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph River At Niles | 3,940 cfs | → |
| Dowagiac River At Sumnerville | 363 cfs | → |
| Juday Creek Near South Bend | 16 cfs | → |
| Galien River Near Sawyer | 65 cfs | → |
| St. Joseph River At Elkhart | 3,590 cfs | → |
| Paw Paw River At Riverside | 451 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Buchanan .
Track Buchanan 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 Buchanan
Where does the data for Buchanan 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 High 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 Buchanan .