County Farm Dam dam
County Farm Dam
County Farm Dam, located in Amsden, Michigan, is a privately owned gravity dam on Dickerson Creek completed in 1926 for recreational purposes. With a height of 16 feet and a length of 270 feet, the dam provides a maximum storage capacity of 300 acre-feet and serves a drainage area of 30.6 square miles. Despite being state-regulated by Michigan DEGLE, the dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating of 3.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 15 feet, and its condition assessment is currently not rated. The last inspection took place in 1994, with a recommended inspection frequency of every 5 years. Although the dam has not been modified in recent years, it remains a vital structure for water resource management and climate resilience in Montcalm County. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the historical significance and recreational value of County Farm Dam, while also recognizing the need for regular maintenance and risk management measures to ensure its continued safety and effectiveness.
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 County Farm Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fish Creek Near Crystal | 29 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Ionia | 1,890 cfs | → |
| Rogue River Near Rockford | 237 cfs | → |
| Maple River At Maple Rapids | 174 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Portland | 1,010 cfs | → |
| Little Muskegon River Near Oak Grove | 241 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near County Farm Dam.
Boat launches
- Sutherland Drive Northwest 180, Douglass Township
- Silk City Nature Trail Belding
- North Shore Drive 427, Crystal
- Midway Walk 399, Belvidere Township
- Ionia Grand River Boat Ramp
- East Bluewater Highway Muir
Campgrounds
- Camp Greenwood
- Wabasis Lake County Park
- Bertha Brock County Park
- Ionia Equestrian-Rustic
- Bass Beach Campground
- Ionia State Rec Area
Fishing spots
- Bostwick Lake
- Flat River
- Baptist Lake
- Little Pine Island Lake
- Fishing Terrace
- Deerfield County Park Swimming Pond
Paddle runs
- Morley Dam In T13n, R10w To Croton Dam Pond In T12n, R11w
- Croton Dam In T12n, R11w To City Of Newaygo In T12n, R12w
- 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
- North Branch From Its Confluence With South Branch In Sec 22, T13n, R16 W To Mclaren Lake In Sec 11, T14n, R15w
Track County Farm 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 County Farm Dam
Where does the data for County Farm 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 County Farm Dam.