Escanaba No 2 Dam dam
Escanaba No 2 Dam
Escanaba No 2 Dam, also known as Groos No 2 Dam, is a privately owned structure located on the Escanaba River in Wells, Michigan. Completed in 1910, this gravity dam stands at a height of 20 feet and has a length of 1300 feet. With a primary purpose of recreation, the dam provides a surface area of 45 acres and a storage capacity of 950 acre-feet, serving as a popular spot for outdoor activities and water sports.
Managed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), Escanaba No 2 Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state agency to ensure its structural integrity and compliance with safety standards. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, the dam has a moderate risk rating due to its age and historical significance. The uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 322 feet, helps manage water flow during peak periods and prevent flooding downstream.
With its historical significance, recreational opportunities, and regulatory oversight, Escanaba No 2 Dam remains an important landmark on the Escanaba River. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the balance between preservation, safety, and enjoyment that this dam provides for the community and ecosystem in Delta County, Michigan.
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 Escanaba No 2 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ford River Near Hyde | 371 cfs | → |
| Escanaba River At Cornell | 1,070 cfs | → |
| Sturgeon River Near Nahma Junction | 275 cfs | → |
| Menominee River Below Pemene Creek Near Pembine | 2,660 cfs | → |
| Menominee River Near Vulcan | 2,480 cfs | → |
| Au Train River At Forest Lake | 137 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Escanaba No 2 Dam.
Boat launches
- County 420 21st Road Escanaba Township
- South 1st Street Wells
- North Lake Shore Drive Gladstone
- Bath House Road Escanaba
- Portage Point Road Ford River Township
- Ford River Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Pioneer Trail Park Campground
- Little Bay De Noc Camp Ground
- Little Bay De Noc Campground
- Haymeadow Creek Campsites
- Haymeadow Creek Campground
- Flowing Well Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- West Branch From Source In Sec 26, T46n, R23 W To Junction With County Road 444
- From Sixteen Mile Lake To North Line Of Sec 26, T43n, R19w
- County Road H-58 (Aka. Adams Trail/ Munising-Van Meer-Shingleton Rd.) To Mouth At Lake Superior
- Section 17, T48n, R17w (Boundary Of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Lands) To Mouth At Lake Superior
Track Escanaba No 2 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 Escanaba No 2 Dam
Where does the data for Escanaba No 2 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 Escanaba No 2 Dam.