Duck Lake Dam dam
Duck Lake Dam
Duck Lake Dam, located in Lake Orion, Michigan, is a crucial structure along Paint Creek, serving primarily for recreation purposes. Built in 1920, this earth dam stands at a height of 14.6 feet and has a hydraulic height of 13.9 feet, with a storage capacity of 350 acre-feet. Its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment make it a relatively stable dam, overseeing a drainage area of 33 square miles.
The dam's uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 25 feet, allows for a maximum discharge of 1040 cubic feet per second. Despite its age, Duck Lake Dam has been maintained and inspected regularly, with the last assessment performed in July 2020. The risk assessment categorizes it as moderate, indicating a level 3 risk, but with no imminent threat identified. Overall, Duck Lake Dam remains a vital structure for both the local community and the surrounding environment, showcasing the importance of responsible water resource management 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 Duck Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Stony Creek Near Romeo | 13 cfs | → |
| Paint Creek At Rochester | 18 cfs | → |
| Stony Creek Near Washington | 23 cfs | → |
| Clinton River At Auburn Hills | 77 cfs | → |
| East Pond Creek At Romeo | 15 cfs | → |
| Plum Brook At Utica | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Duck Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Squaw Lake Dnr Boat Launch
- Oakland County
- Cedar Key Drive 2375, Oakland County
- Lakeville Lake, 460 Acres, Oakland County
- F-All Visitors Loop Oakland County
- Lake Oakland, 735 Acres, Oakland County
Campgrounds
- Chippewa Campsite
- Pine Grove Campsite
- Picnic Area Campsite
- Pines Campsite
- Outpost Campsite
- Cherokee Campsite
Track Duck 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 Duck Lake Dam
Where does the data for Duck 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 Duck Lake Dam.