Sturgeon River Dam dam
Sturgeon River Dam
The Sturgeon River Dam, also known as the Sturgeon Plant, is a privately owned hydroelectric facility located in Loretto, Michigan. Completed in 1924, this gravity dam stands at a height of 80 feet and has a length of 290 feet, harnessing the power of the Sturgeon River to generate electricity. With a storage capacity of 6,700 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 4,400 cubic feet per second, this dam plays a crucial role in providing renewable energy to the region.
Despite not being state regulated, the Sturgeon River Dam poses a moderate risk according to its risk assessment, with an undetermined hazard potential. The dam's condition is currently not rated, with its last inspection dating back to September 1998. While emergency preparedness measures like an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) are not specified, the dam's uncontrolled spillway and moderate risk status highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and efficiency of this vital water resource infrastructure for both energy production and environmental preservation in the Sturgeon River watershed.
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 Sturgeon River Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Menominee River Near Vulcan | 3,370 cfs | → |
| Menominee River At Niagara | 2,950 cfs | → |
| Menominee River Below Pemene Creek Near Pembine | 3,520 cfs | → |
| Menominee River At Twin Falls Near Iron Mt | 3,420 cfs | → |
| Menominee River At White Rapids Dam Near Banat | 3,840 cfs | → |
| Pine River Below Pine R Powerplant Nr Florence | 452 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sturgeon River Dam.
Boat launches
- Burgens Backwater Road Waucedah Township
- Waucedah Road Waucedah
- Lake Mary Drive South Waucedah Township
- River Road Norway Township
- Hanbury Lake Road Norway
- County Road 577 Faithorn Township
Campgrounds
- Summer Breeze Campground
- River Bends Campground
- Gene's Pond State Forest Campground
- New Prospect - Kettle Moraine State Forest
- Twelve Foot Falls County Park
- Cedar River North State Forest Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Brule Lake In Ne1/4 Sec 15, T41n, R13e To Forest Boundary In Se1/4 Sec 31, T41n, R17e
- Forest Road 2398 To Eastern Forest Boundary
- Mainstem, Easternforest Boundary In Sec 1, T44n, R35w To City Of Crystal Falls
- Forest Road 2156 To Eastern Forest Boundary
- Confluence With Armstrong Creek To Sec 12/13 Line, T35n, R16e
- Sec 12/13 Line, T35n, R16e To Forest Boundary In Sec 24, T35n, R16e
Track Sturgeon River 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 Sturgeon River Dam
Where does the data for Sturgeon River 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 Undetermined 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 Sturgeon River Dam.