Echo Lake Dam dam
Echo Lake Dam
Echo Lake Dam, located in Topinabee, Michigan, is a state-owned structure primarily used for recreation purposes. Built in 1971, this earth dam stands at a height of 16 feet and has a hydraulic height of 5.5 feet. With a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet, the dam creates a serene lake with a surface area of 25 acres, offering a tranquil setting for water and climate enthusiasts to enjoy.
Despite its low hazard potential, Echo Lake Dam's condition assessment in 2000 deemed it unsatisfactory. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway type with a width of 2 feet and has not been modified in recent years. While the risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, the dam is not regulated or inspected by the state, raising concerns about its long-term structural integrity.
With the Little Pigeon River as its tributary, Echo Lake Dam serves as a vital recreational spot in Cheboygan County. As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore this area, there is a need for increased monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and sustainability of this essential water infrastructure.
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 Echo Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sturgeon River At Wolverine | 409 cfs | → |
| Pigeon R At Sturgeon Valley Rd Near Vanderbilt | 110 cfs | → |
| Jordan River Near East Jordan | 311 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Red Oak | 1,350 cfs | → |
| Thunder Bay River At Herron Road Near Bolton | 463 cfs | → |
| South Branch Au Sable River Near Luzerne | 350 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Echo Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Cornwell Grade Road 16407, Nunda Township
- Dnr Park Road 7399, Wilmot Township
- Tie Road Mentor Township
- Buckeye Beach Road Chandler Township
- Black River Avenue 6463, Tower
- County Road S-6 Waverly Township
Campgrounds
- Pine Grove State Forest Campground
- Pickerel Lake State Forest Campground
- Haakwood - State Forest
- Haakwood State Forest Campground
- Elk Hill Equestrian State Forest Campground
- Pigeon River State Forest Campground
Fishing spots
Track Echo 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 Echo Lake Dam
Where does the data for Echo 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 Echo Lake Dam.