Hamilton Dam dam
Hamilton Dam
Hamilton Dam, located in the city of Hamilton, Michigan, is a gravity-type structure on the Rabbit River that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1900, the dam stands at a height of 13 feet and spans 440 feet in length, with a maximum storage capacity of 500 acre-feet. The dam's spillway, which is uncontrolled, has a width of 240 feet, allowing for a maximum discharge of 7,100 cubic feet per second.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition was assessed as unsatisfactory in 2009. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE) regulates the dam and conducts inspections every five years. The risk assessment for the dam is rated as moderate, indicating a moderate level of risk associated with its operation. Additionally, the dam is not owned or funded by any federal agencies, making it solely under the jurisdiction of local government authorities. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Hamilton Dam provides a valuable case study in dam management and maintenance in 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 Hamilton Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo River At New Richmond | 1,980 cfs | → |
| Kalamazoo River Near New Richmond | 4,480 cfs | → |
| Macatawa River At State Road Near Zeeland | 20 cfs | → |
| Rabbit River Near Hopkins | 49 cfs | → |
| South Branch Black River Near Bangor | 66 cfs | → |
| Grand River At Grand Rapids | 4,020 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hamilton Dam.
Boat launches
- Hacklander Boating Access Site Saugatuck Township
- Hutchins Lake Boat Launch
- 65th Street 3698, Laketown Township
- Schultz Park Boating Access Site Douglas
- Bayou Street 87, Douglas
- Lake Macatawa Boating Access Site Park Township
Campgrounds
- Silver Creek Campground
- Tri-Ponds Family Camp Resort
- Ely Lake Campground
- Brookside City Park
- Gun Lake - Yankee Springs State Rec Area
- Yankee Springs Deep Lake-Rustic
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Croton Dam In T12n, R11w To City Of Newaygo In T12n, R12w
- Mainstem To Forest Boundary At North Section Line Of Sec 2, T13n, R15w (1.5 Miles West Of Herperia)
More reservoirs
Track Hamilton 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 Hamilton Dam
Where does the data for Hamilton 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 Hamilton Dam.