Starved Rock Lock And Dam dam
Starved Rock Lock And Dam
Starved Rock Lock and Dam, located on the Illinois River in LaSalle County, Illinois, serves as a critical navigation point and hydroelectric facility. Completed in 1933, this concrete gravity dam stands at a structural height of 35 feet and spans 1,429 feet, with a hydraulic height of 25 feet. Its primary purpose is navigation, with a single lock measuring 600 feet in length and 110 feet in width. The dam's risk assessment was reclassified as low in July 2021, with measures in place to mitigate potential hazards such as flood events that could impact the Tainter gate system.
The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) oversees the operation and maintenance of Starved Rock Lock and Dam, conducting regular inspections to ensure its integrity and address any deficiencies. The dam's Emergency Action Plan is regularly updated, with coordination with state and local emergency management agencies to enhance response planning. USACE's risk management measures include a robust monitoring program, emergency exercises with local responders, and a comprehensive communication plan to increase awareness and preparedness in the event of a dam incident. Despite a low risk of failure, the dam's impact would be limited to river navigation upstream, with minimal property damages downstream in the unlikely event of a failure.
Overall, Starved Rock Lock and Dam stands as a vital infrastructure for water resource management, supporting navigation and hydroelectricity while prioritizing risk management and public safety. With continuous monitoring and maintenance efforts in place, the dam remains a key asset for the community, demonstrating a proactive approach to addressing potential hazards and ensuring the long-term sustainability of this essential structure in the Illinois River watershed.
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 Starved Rock Lock And Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Vermilion River Near Leonore | 523 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Dayton | 1,920 cfs | → |
| Illinois River At Marseilles | 8,420 cfs | → |
| East Bureau Creek Near Bureau | 2 cfs | → |
| Illinois River At Henry | 8,790 cfs | → |
| Big Bureau Creek At Princeton | 43 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Starved Rock Lock And Dam.
Boat launches
- Il 71 Lasalle County
- Ed Hand Highway 95, Deer Park
- Courtney Street Ottawa
- Calumet Street Ottawa
- Il 89 Spring Valley
- East 2425th Road Lasalle County
Campgrounds
- Starved Rock State Park
- Horseback Campground @ Matthiessen State Park
- Illini State Park
- Illini State Park Campground
- Lake De Pue City Park
- Tony's Cabin
Fishing spots
Track Starved Rock Lock And 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 Starved Rock Lock And Dam
Where does the data for Starved Rock Lock And 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 Significant 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 Starved Rock Lock And Dam.