Newburgh Dam dam
Newburgh Dam
The Newburgh Dam, located on the M Br River Rouge in Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan, serves as a vital structure for recreation purposes. Completed in 1933, this gravity dam stands at a height of 29 feet and stretches 1000 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 1250 acre-feet, the dam helps regulate water flow and maintain a surface area of 114 acres, benefitting the surrounding environment and community.
Managed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), the Newburgh Dam is subject to regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite being categorized as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2018 was deemed satisfactory. The risk assessment for the dam is classified as very high, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to mitigate potential threats and ensure the safety of the surrounding area.
With its controlled spillway and history of serving the local community for nearly a century, the Newburgh Dam stands as a key landmark for water resource and climate enthusiasts. As efforts continue to maintain and manage this essential structure, its role in providing recreational opportunities and supporting ecological balance remains paramount in 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 Newburgh Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle River Rouge At Plymouth | 40 cfs | → |
| Middle River Rouge Near Garden City | 115 cfs | → |
| Upper River Rouge At Farmington | 24 cfs | → |
| Lower River Rouge At Inkster | 132 cfs | → |
| River Rouge At Detroit | 114 cfs | → |
| River Rouge At Southfield | 68 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Newburgh Dam.
Boat launches
- Hines Drive Livonia
- Hines Drive 33469, Livonia
- Longwood Court Northville Township
- Monroe Street Dearborn
- Lake Point Boulevard Van Buren Township
- South Dearborn Street Melvindale
Campgrounds
- Group Use Area
- Wayne County Fairgrounds Rv
- East Bend Group Camp
- Proud Lake State Rec Area
- Group Camp 2
- Group Camp 6
Track Newburgh 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 Newburgh Dam
Where does the data for Newburgh 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 High 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 Newburgh Dam.