Perry Lake Dam dam
Perry Lake Dam
Perry Lake Dam, located in Oscoda, Michigan, is a private dam on Perry Creek with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 2010, this earth dam stands at a height of 9.1 feet and has a hydraulic height of 8 feet, providing a storage capacity of 315 acre-feet. The dam also features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 26 feet, ensuring safe water release during times of high flow.
With a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of July 2019, Perry Lake Dam is regulated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (DEGLE). The dam's risk assessment is considered moderate, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued safety and functionality. The dam's location in a beautiful natural setting makes it a popular spot for recreational activities, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy its serene surroundings and water-based activities.
As a key feature in the landscape of Oscoda, Michigan, Perry Lake Dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike. With a focus on safety and environmental protection, the dam's management and maintenance are overseen by the state regulatory agency, ensuring that it continues to serve its purpose effectively while preserving the surrounding ecosystem. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Perry Lake Dam offers a unique glimpse into the intersection of human engineering and natural beauty, making it a must-visit destination in the 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 Perry Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Au Sable River At Mio | 1,290 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Red Oak | 1,340 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Mc Kinley | 1,680 cfs | → |
| Au Sable River Near Curtisville | 1,580 cfs | → |
| South Branch Au Sable River Near Luzerne | 332 cfs | → |
| Pigeon R At Sturgeon Valley Rd Near Vanderbilt | 97 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Perry Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Reber Road Comins Township
- Mccollum Lake Road Clinton Township
- Evans Road Mentor Township
- Federal Route 4001 Mitchell Township
- North Skeel Road Millen Township
- Balsam Road 6998, Charlton Township
Fishing spots
- Ramah Reservoir
- Kinney Lake State Wildlife Area
- Kinney Lake Swa
- Hugo Swa Ponds
- Karval Reservoir
- Willow Springs Ponds
More reservoirs
Track Perry 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 Perry Lake Dam
Where does the data for Perry 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 Perry Lake Dam.