Gray's Creek Dam dam
Gray's Creek Dam
Gray's Creek Dam in Schoolcraft, Michigan, is a federally-owned structure managed by the Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service. Completed in 1994, the earth dam stands at a height of 11 feet and serves primarily as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. With a storage capacity of 138 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.62 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in habitat preservation and management for aquatic species in the area.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2018 was reported as poor, indicating a need for maintenance and possibly structural improvements. The dam features controlled spillways and other controlled outlet gates, providing mechanisms for managing water flow and maintaining safety. With a very high risk rating due to its condition, the dam's risk management measures and emergency action plan preparedness may require attention to ensure the continued safety and functionality of the structure.
Located on Gray's Creek, the dam is situated in a picturesque natural setting, making it an important component of the local ecosystem. Given its significance for fish and wildlife management, efforts to address its maintenance needs and ensure its long-term sustainability are essential for preserving the environmental health and biodiversity of the region.
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 Gray's Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Manistique River Near Manistique | 2,460 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Garnet | 33 cfs | → |
| Tahquamenon River Near Paradise | 1,390 cfs | → |
| Sturgeon River Near Nahma Junction | 254 cfs | → |
| Au Train River At Forest Lake | 137 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gray's Creek Dam .
Boat launches
- Zellar Road Germfask Township
- Manistique River Road Germfask Township
- Ten Curves Road Germfask
- County Road 480 Lakefield Township
- Cook's Bay Access Portage Township
- Randall Road Portage Township
Campgrounds
- Mead Creek State Forest Campground
- South Manistique Lake State Forest Campground
- Fox River State Forest Campground
- Milakokia Lake State Forest Campground
- Merwin Creek State Forest Campground
- East Branch Of Fox River State Forest Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Section 17, T48n, R17w (Boundary Of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Lands) To Mouth At Lake Superior
- County Road H-58 (Aka. Adams Trail/ Munising-Van Meer-Shingleton Rd.) To Mouth At Lake Superior
- From Sixteen Mile Lake To North Line Of Sec 26, T43n, R19w
- East Branch From Western Forest Boundary (Sec 19, T46n, R6w) To Confluence With Mainstem
- Origin At Confluence Of Outlets Of Frenchman Lake And Carp Lake (Sec 26, T44n, R6w) To West Section Line Of Sec 30, T43n, R5w
- Source In Sec 21, T47n, R12w To Mouth At Whitefish Bay
Track Gray's Creek 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 Gray's Creek Dam
Where does the data for Gray's Creek 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 Gray's Creek Dam .