Far Oaks Lake Dam dam
Far Oaks Lake Dam
Far Oaks Lake Dam, also known as Bauers Lake, is a private dam located in Caseyville, Illinois. Built in 1901, this earth dam stands at a height of 26 feet and stretches 360 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 110 acre-feet for recreational purposes. Situated on the tributary of Little Canteen Creek, the dam is under the regulatory oversight of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
With a spillway width of 6 feet and uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, Far Oaks Lake Dam has a significant hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. The dam's condition assessment is currently not available, and no Emergency Action Plan (EAP) has been reported. Despite these uncertainties, the dam remains a popular spot for outdoor activities, offering an 18-acre surface area for recreation and a drainage area of 0.1 square miles. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, this dam presents an intriguing case study in the management and maintenance of private dams within the Illinois landscape.
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 Far Oaks Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Richland Creek Near Hecker | 120 cfs | → |
| Kaskaskia River At New Athens | 7,150 cfs | → |
| Silver Creek Near Freeburg | 155 cfs | → |
| Martigney Creek Near Arnold | 2 cfs | → |
| Kaskaskia River Near Venedy Station | 6,350 cfs | → |
| Gravois Creek Near Mehlville | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Far Oaks Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Il 13 New Athens
- North 1st Street 2252, Fayetteville
- Randolph County
- St Ellen Mine Trail O'Fallon
- Davis Street Ferry Road East Carondelet
- Williamson Road Oakville
Campgrounds
- Scott Afb Military
- Horseshoe Lake Recreation Area
- Fort Kaskaskia State Park
- Randolph County State Conservation Area
Paddle runs
Track Far Oaks 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 Far Oaks Lake Dam
Where does the data for Far Oaks 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 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 Far Oaks Lake Dam.