Raccoon Lake Dam dam
Raccoon Lake Dam
Raccoon Lake Dam, located in Marion, Illinois, is a vital water supply infrastructure managed by the local government. Built in 1943 by the renowned designers Greeley & Hansen, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 29 feet and spans a length of 1480 feet, with a maximum storage capacity of 6700 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is for water supply, serving the surrounding area with a normal storage capacity of 4709 acre-feet and a surface area of 730 acres.
The dam overlooks Raccoon Creek and is regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), ensuring that it meets state inspection, permitting, and enforcement requirements. With a controlled spillway type and Tainter (radial) outlet gates, the dam has a high hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating. Although its condition assessment is not available, efforts to manage risks and ensure safety measures are in place to minimize potential hazards. Overall, Raccoon Lake Dam plays a crucial role in providing essential water resources to the community while adhering to state regulatory standards.
As a significant part of the water supply infrastructure in Central City, Raccoon Lake Dam stands as a testament to effective dam design and management. With its historical significance dating back to the 1940s, the dam continues to serve its primary purpose while maintaining a high level of risk management and safety protocols. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the engineering and operational aspects of Raccoon Lake Dam offer a fascinating insight into the intersection of infrastructure development, environmental stewardship, and community resilience in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Raccoon Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork Kaskaskia River Near Sandoval | 2,360 cfs | → |
| Kaskaskia River At Carlyle | 4,860 cfs | → |
| Little Crooked Creek Near New Minden | 753 cfs | → |
| Rayse Creek Near Waltonville | 700 cfs | → |
| Shoal Creek Near Breese | 1,520 cfs | → |
| Casey Fork At Mount Vernon | 791 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Raccoon Lake Dam.
Track Raccoon 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 Raccoon Lake Dam
Where does the data for Raccoon 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 High 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 Raccoon Lake Dam.