Quarton Dam dam
Quarton Dam
Quarton Dam, located in Birmingham, Michigan, is a vital earth dam constructed in 1921 with a primary purpose of recreation. This dam, standing at a height of 19 feet and a hydraulic height of 16.2 feet, spans 400 feet in length and holds a storage capacity of 160 acre-feet. The dam regulates flow on the Quarton Br River Rouge and has a controlled spillway with a width of 50 feet. Despite its significant hazard potential, Quarton Dam is rated as being in satisfactory condition as of its last inspection in June 2017.
Being under the regulatory oversight of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), Quarton Dam is subject to inspection, permitting, and enforcement by the state agency to ensure its safe operation. The dam's risk assessment has been classified as very high (1), emphasizing the importance of proper risk management measures to prevent potential hazards. With its historical significance and role in providing recreational opportunities in the area, Quarton Dam serves as a crucial infrastructure for water resource management and climate enthusiasts to study and appreciate.
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 Quarton Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| River Rouge At Birmingham | 13 cfs | → |
| Clinton River At Auburn Hills | 77 cfs | → |
| River Rouge At Southfield | 36 cfs | → |
| Upper River Rouge At Farmington | 11 cfs | → |
| Plum Brook At Utica | 6 cfs | → |
| Paint Creek At Rochester | 18 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Quarton Dam.
Boat launches
- Normanwood Circle 3807, West Bloomfield Township
- Orchard Lake, 788 Acres, Oakland County
- Canal Drive 41, Pontiac
- Elizabeth Lake Road Waterford Township
- Union Lake, 465 Acres, Oakland County
- Lake Oakland, 735 Acres, Oakland County
Campgrounds
- Proud Lake State Rec Area
- South Hill Campsite
- Apache Campsite
- East Prairie Campsite
- Cherokee Campsite
- Outpost Campsite
Track Quarton 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 Quarton Dam
Where does the data for Quarton 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 Significant 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 Quarton Dam.