Illinois Central Railroad Reservoir Dam dam
Illinois Central Railroad Reservoir Dam
The Illinois Central Railroad Reservoir Dam, located in Washington, Illinois, was completed in 1930 by the USDA NRCS and serves as a private recreational site along the tributary of the Little Muddy River. With a height of 24 feet and a length of 590 feet, this earth dam provides a storage capacity of 220 acre-feet, making it a significant water resource structure in the area. The dam is state-regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, ensuring that it meets inspection, permitting, and enforcement requirements.
Despite its age, the Illinois Central Railroad Reservoir Dam remains in good condition with a moderate risk assessment level. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 80 feet, contributing to its hazard potential being classified as significant. While the dam's condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Available," its last inspection date was in August 2020, with inspections scheduled every three years to ensure maintenance and safety standards are upheld. With its primary purpose being recreation, the dam continues to provide a valuable resource for water enthusiasts in the region.
As a historic water resource structure in Illinois, the Illinois Central Railroad Reservoir Dam stands as a testament to early 20th-century engineering and conservation efforts. Owned privately, the dam's design and construction were overseen by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, showcasing a collaboration between government agencies and private entities to manage water resources effectively. With its location in the city of DuBois and the oversight of state regulators, the dam remains a key feature in the local landscape, offering both recreational opportunities and essential water management capabilities for the surrounding area.
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 Illinois Central Railroad Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rayse Creek Near Waltonville | 95 cfs | → |
| Little Crooked Creek Near New Minden | 24 cfs | → |
| Casey Fork At Mount Vernon | 124 cfs | → |
| Kaskaskia River At Carlyle | 4,730 cfs | → |
| Kaskaskia River Near Venedy Station | 10,300 cfs | → |
| Big Muddy River At Plumfield | 240 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Illinois Central Railroad Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Jefferson County
- Franklin County
- Illinois Route 154 Franklin County
- Illinois Route 37 Franklin County
- Rend Lake Bike Trail Franklin County
Campgrounds
- Washington County Lake State Conservation Area
- Pyramid State Park
- Dam West - Lake Carlyle
- Coles Creek - Lake Carlyle
- Eldon Hazlet State Park
- Boulder - Lake Carlyle
Track Illinois Central Railroad Reservoir 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 Illinois Central Railroad Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Illinois Central Railroad Reservoir 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 Illinois Central Railroad Reservoir Dam.