Wildlife Lake Dam dam
Wildlife Lake Dam
Wildlife Lake Dam, also known as Ashley Reservoir, is a local government-owned structure located in Waltonville, Illinois. Built in 1941 by designers Bledsoe and McCaslin, this Earth-type dam serves primarily for water supply purposes. The dam has a height of 30 feet and a length of 660 feet, with a storage capacity of 412 acre-feet and a normal storage of 142 acre-feet. It is situated on the TRIB RAYSE CREEK and falls under the regulatory oversight of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
With a significant hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, Wildlife Lake Dam is subject to regular inspections, with the last one conducted in August 2020. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with a maximum discharge capacity of 1561 cubic feet per second. Despite its age, the condition assessment of the dam is currently listed as "Not Available," indicating a need for further evaluation to ensure its structural integrity and safety. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Wildlife Lake Dam presents an interesting case study in the management and maintenance of critical infrastructure in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Wildlife Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rayse Creek Near Waltonville | 15 cfs | → |
| Little Crooked Creek Near New Minden | 3 cfs | → |
| Casey Fork At Mount Vernon | 80 cfs | → |
| Kaskaskia River At Carlyle | 4,810 cfs | → |
| East Fork Kaskaskia River Near Sandoval | 382 cfs | → |
| Shoal Creek Near Breese | 318 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wildlife Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Washington County Lake State Conservation Area
- Coles Creek - Lake Carlyle
- Dam West - Lake Carlyle
- Eldon Hazlet State Park
- Boulder - Lake Carlyle
- Pyramid State Park
Track Wildlife 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 Wildlife Lake Dam
Where does the data for Wildlife 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 Wildlife Lake Dam.