Little Rainbow Lake Dam dam
Little Rainbow Lake Dam
Little Rainbow Lake Dam, also known as Luce Road Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Maple Rapids, Michigan. Completed in 1972, this earth dam serves primarily for recreation purposes, with a height of 33 feet and a length of 600 feet. It impounds Little Rainbow Lake, a tributary to Pine Creek, with a storage capacity of 305 acre-feet and a surface area of 16.5 acres.
The dam has a low hazard potential and is classified as having a satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in December 2019. It is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE), with state permits, inspections, and enforcement in place. The spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 22 feet, and a maximum discharge capacity of 250 cubic feet per second.
Despite its moderate risk assessment level, Little Rainbow Lake Dam continues to provide recreational opportunities and water resource management benefits to the local community. Its strategic location within the Gratiot County landscape underscores its importance in maintaining the ecological balance and resilience of 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 Little Rainbow Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Maple River At Maple Rapids | 209 cfs | → |
| Fish Creek Near Crystal | 31 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Ionia | 2,210 cfs | → |
| Looking Glass River Near Eagle | 190 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Portland | 1,180 cfs | → |
| Shiawassee River At Owosso | 316 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Rainbow Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- North Shore Drive 427, Crystal
- East Bluewater Highway Muir
- South Tabor Street 270, Lyons
- Leppien Park
- Ionia Grand River Boat Ramp
- Howe Road Dewitt Charter Township
Campgrounds
- Maple River Campground
- Sleepy Hollow State Park
- Bertha Brock County Park
- Ionia Equestrian-Rustic
- Ionia State Rec Area
Fishing spots
Track Little Rainbow 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 Little Rainbow Lake Dam
Where does the data for Little Rainbow 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 Little Rainbow Lake Dam.