Vesper Lake Dam dam
Vesper Lake Dam
Vesper Lake Dam, located in Madison County, Illinois, is a private-owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Constructed in 1955 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 24 feet and spans a length of 225 feet along the TRIB CAHOKIA CREEK. With a storage capacity of 54 acre-feet, the dam is regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Vesper Lake Dam poses a moderate risk due to its age and the lack of available condition assessment data. The spillway, which is uncontrolled, has a width of 35 feet, and the outlet gates are also uncontrolled. In case of emergencies, the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, which is a cause for concern. Overall, the risk management measures and guidelines for the dam are not clearly defined, indicating a need for further evaluation and preparation in case of unforeseen events.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Vesper Lake Dam serves as an interesting case study in dam management and safety. With its recreational purpose and location in a populated area, the dam's condition and risk assessment are crucial in ensuring the safety of the surrounding community and the preservation of the local ecosystem. As efforts continue to monitor and improve the dam's infrastructure, it will be important to address any potential vulnerabilities and establish comprehensive emergency response plans to mitigate risks and safeguard the environment.
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 Vesper Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cahokia Creek At Edwardsville | 68 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek At Wanda | 14 cfs | → |
| Silver Creek Near Troy | 71 cfs | → |
| Judys Branch At Rte 157 At Glen Carbon | 0 cfs | → |
| Shoal Creek Nr Pierron | 334 cfs | → |
| Watkins Creek At Bellefontaine Nbr | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vesper Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Highland Park Road Highland
- Schiber Court Maryville
- Beach House Trail 4292, Litchfield
- Riverlands Way West Alton
- Spanish Pond Road Spanish Lake
- Lake Drive Pontoon Beach
Track Vesper 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 Vesper Lake Dam
Where does the data for Vesper 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 Vesper Lake Dam.