East Fork Lake Dam dam
East Fork Lake Dam
East Fork Lake Dam, located in Olney, Illinois, stands as a testament to the importance of water resource management and climate resilience. Built in 1972 by Warren & Van Praag, Inc., this earth dam serves multiple purposes, primarily focusing on recreation and water supply. With a height of 84 feet and a length of 6500 feet, the dam holds a maximum storage capacity of 22,680 acre-feet, providing a critical source of water for the surrounding area.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, East Fork Lake Dam plays a vital role in flood control and water management along the East Fork Fox River. The dam's uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 629 feet, helps mitigate high hazard potential during extreme weather events. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's risk assessment remains at a moderate level (3), reflecting ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure.
With its scenic location and recreational opportunities, East Fork Lake Dam is not only a crucial water resource but also a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the management and maintenance of dams like East Fork Lake are essential in ensuring sustainable water management practices 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 East Fork Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Embarras River At Ste. Marie | 1,100 cfs | → |
| Little Wabash River Below Clay City | 289 cfs | → |
| North Fork Embarras River Near Oblong | 42 cfs | → |
| Embarras River At Lawrenceville | 1,510 cfs | → |
| Bonpas Creek At Browns | 7 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At Mt. Carmel | 48,500 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near East Fork Lake Dam.
Track East Fork 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 East Fork Lake Dam
Where does the data for East Fork 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 East Fork Lake Dam.