Lake Centralia Dam dam
Lake Centralia Dam
Located in Marion, Illinois, Lake Centralia Dam is a significant earth dam with a height of 31 feet and a length of 720 feet, completed in 1911 by Harper Engineering Co. The dam serves the primary purpose of recreation, providing a surface area of 300 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 4,165 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular state inspections, with a significant hazard potential due to its location on Martin Branch.
Visitors to Lake Centralia can enjoy recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and picnicking, all while appreciating the vital role the dam plays in providing water supply. With a drainage area of 6.7 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 5,183 cubic feet per second, the dam ensures the surrounding community has access to a reliable water source. Despite its age, Lake Centralia Dam has been well-maintained, with a moderate risk assessment rating and a three-year inspection frequency to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
Overall, Lake Centralia Dam stands as a testament to the enduring importance of water resource management and infrastructure in supporting both recreational activities and essential water supply needs. As a key structure in Marion County, Illinois, the dam serves as a vital link between the local community and the natural environment, highlighting the intersection of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship in ensuring sustainable water resources for future generations.
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 Centralia Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork Kaskaskia River Near Sandoval | 32 cfs | → |
| Kaskaskia River At Carlyle | 3,790 cfs | → |
| Casey Fork At Mount Vernon | 18 cfs | → |
| Rayse Creek Near Waltonville | 10 cfs | → |
| Little Crooked Creek Near New Minden | 5 cfs | → |
| Hickory Creek Nr Brownstown | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Centralia Dam.
Track Lake Centralia 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 Centralia Dam
Where does the data for Lake Centralia 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 Lake Centralia Dam.