Ford Estate Dam dam
Ford Estate Dam
Located in Dearborn, Michigan, the Ford Estate Dam stands as a testament to early 20th-century engineering and design. Built in 1909, this rockfill dam on the River Rouge serves primarily for recreation, with a height of 12 feet and a length of 97 feet. Despite its age, the dam has a satisfactory condition assessment and a low hazard potential, making it a safe and reliable structure for local water management.
Managed by a private owner, the Ford Estate Dam is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. With a storage capacity of 75 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 60 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in maintaining water levels along the River Rouge. Additionally, it has an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 97 feet, ensuring safe discharge during periods of high flow.
While the dam has not undergone significant modifications in recent years, regular inspections ensure its continued safety and functionality. With a moderate risk assessment rating, the Ford Estate Dam remains a key feature in the local water resource management system, providing both recreational opportunities and essential flood control measures for the surrounding area.
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 Ford Estate Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lower River Rouge At Dearborn | 109 cfs | → |
| Middle River Rouge At Dearborn Heights | 170 cfs | → |
| Lower River Rouge At Inkster | 132 cfs | → |
| Ecorse River At Dearborn Heights | 30 cfs | → |
| River Rouge At Detroit | 114 cfs | → |
| Middle River Rouge Near Garden City | 115 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ford Estate Dam.
Boat launches
- Monroe Street Dearborn
- South Dearborn Street Melvindale
- Belanger Park
- Delray Public Access Boat Ramp
- Hines Drive 33469, Livonia
- Detroit Riverwalk Detroit
Campgrounds
- East Bend Group Camp
- Wayne County Fairgrounds Rv
- Group Use Area
- Holiday Beach Conservation Area
- Proud Lake State Rec Area
- Group Camp 2
Track Ford Estate 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 Ford Estate Dam
Where does the data for Ford Estate 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 Ford Estate Dam.