Lake Echon Dam dam
Lake Echon Dam
Lake Echon Dam, located in Johnson County, Illinois, was completed in 1968 and serves as a vital water resource for the area. The dam, with a height of 16 feet and a length of 820 feet, primarily functions for recreational purposes, providing a serene environment for water enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Managed by a private owner, the dam is regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, ensuring state jurisdiction, permitting, inspection, and enforcement measures are in place to maintain its integrity.
With a storage capacity of 178 acre-feet and a normal storage of 129 acre-feet, Lake Echon Dam offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, and picnicking. The dam's spillway, with a width of 35 feet, is uncontrolled, adding to the natural beauty and charm of the surrounding area. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam is subject to regular inspections to ensure its safety and functionality, with a moderate risk assessment score of 3 indicating a need for ongoing risk management measures.
Lake Echon Dam, nestled along the tributary of Ozark Creek, not only provides a recreational oasis but also contributes to the overall water management system in the region. As a significant feature in the St. Louis District, the dam stands as a testament to responsible water resource utilization and preservation efforts. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the careful design and maintenance of Lake Echon Dam as it continues to serve both practical and leisure purposes for the community in Johnson County, Illinois.
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 Lake Echon Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Saline River Nr Carrier Mills | 37 cfs | → |
| Lusk Creek Near Eddyville | 48 cfs | → |
| Cache River At Forman | 10 cfs | → |
| Crab Orchard Creek Near Marion | 5 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Metropolis | 444,000 cfs | → |
| Bayou Creek Near Grahamville | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Echon Dam.
Boat launches
- Hickory Johnson County
- Town Park Road Saline County
- Reservoir Road 11298, Williamson County
- Meadowlark Road Williamson County
- Main Street Golconda
- Cotton Road Saline County
Campgrounds
- Camp Ondessonk
- Red Bud Campground
- Teal Pond Campground
- Bear Branch Horse Resort
- Cedar Grove Camping Area
- Turkey Ridge Tent Campground
Fishing spots
- Little Cache Lake #1 (Bowman Lake)
- Lake Of Egypt
- Dutchman Lake
- One Horse Gap Lake
- Whoopie Cat Lake
- Lake Tecumseh
Paddle runs
- 1 Minle Southwest Of Delwood, Il (Sec. 18, T11s, R13e) To Reesville, 1/4 Mile South Of The Confluence With Sugar Creek
- Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop To Confluence With Ohio River At Golconda,Il
- Source, About 2 Miles East Of Delwood, Il (Sec 10, T11s, R6e) To Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop (Se1/4,Sec.16,T12s, R6e)
- Wallace Cemetery Approx 2.5 Miles Nw Of Herod, Il To Confluence With Ohio River At Golconda Jobs Corp Center
- Russell Cemetery, Approx 1/4 Mile North Of Karbers Ridge Road To Proclamation Boundary, 1 Mile Nw Of Elizabethtown,Il
- 1 Mile West Of Alto Pass, Il To 1/2 Mile South Of Confluence With Clear Creek, West Of Trail Of Tears State Forest
Track Lake Echon 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 Lake Echon Dam
Where does the data for Lake Echon 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 Lake Echon Dam.