Heintz Lake Dam dam
Heintz Lake Dam
Heintz Lake Dam, also known as Cabin Lake Dam, is a privately owned structure located in West Branch, Michigan. Constructed in 1930, this earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, providing a serene environment for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy. With a height of 8 feet and a length of 100 feet, Heintz Lake Dam has a maximum storage capacity of 130 acre-feet and a normal storage of 20 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 11 acres.
Managed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), Heintz Lake Dam has been classified as having a low hazard potential and is considered to be in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in 2017. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam poses a very high risk due to its location and potential consequences of failure. With a controlled spillway width of 4 feet and a maximum discharge of 270 cubic feet per second, the dam is equipped to handle excess water flow effectively. Water enthusiasts can appreciate the beauty of Heintz Lake Dam while being reassured of its safety and regulatory oversight by the state of 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 Heintz Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle River Near Sterling | 354 cfs | → |
| South Branch Au Sable River Near Luzerne | 341 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River At Mio | 1,400 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Red Oak | 1,490 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Curtisville | 1,690 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Mc Kinley | 1,760 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Heintz Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Houghton Creek Road Foster Township
- Sage Lake Road 1902, Cumming Township
- Ranch Road Cumming Township
- Ridge Road Cumming Township
- East Greenwood Road Mills Township
- George Lake Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Ambrose Lake State Forest Campground
- Ogemaw Sport And Trail Center – Motocross And Atv Campground
- Rifle River-Ranch Rustic
- Rifle River-Spruce Rustic
- Rifle River-Devoe Lake Rustic
- Cole Family Camp
Fishing spots
Track Heintz Lake 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 Heintz Lake Dam
Where does the data for Heintz Lake 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 Heintz Lake Dam.