Baldwin Plant Cooling Lake Dam dam
Baldwin Plant Cooling Lake Dam
Located in Evansville, Illinois, the Baldwin Plant Cooling Lake Dam is a vital structure designed by HARZA ENGINEERING CO. The dam, completed in 1968, serves multiple purposes, including recreation and water storage. With a height of 55 feet and a length of 1370 feet, it holds a normal storage capacity of 26,008 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 36,341 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Little Doza Creek, providing essential water resource management for the region.
Managed by a public utility, the Baldwin Plant Cooling Lake Dam is regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. It has a controlled spillway with a width of 24 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 748 cubic feet per second. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently not available, highlighting the need for regular inspection and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The risk assessment for the dam is categorized as very high, underscoring the importance of effective risk management measures.
In the face of climate change and fluctuating water resources, the Baldwin Plant Cooling Lake Dam plays a critical role in the water infrastructure of Randolph County, Illinois. Its strategic location and multi-purpose design make it a key asset for both water management and recreational activities in the area. As enthusiasts for water resources and climate resilience, understanding and monitoring the condition of dams like Baldwin Plant Cooling Lake Dam is crucial for sustainable water resource management and disaster preparedness efforts.
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 Baldwin Plant Cooling Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kaskaskia River At New Athens | 11,000 cfs | → |
| Richland Creek Near Hecker | 3,870 cfs | → |
| Silver Creek Near Freeburg | 1,340 cfs | → |
| Kaskaskia River Near Venedy Station | 9,150 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Chester | 237,000 cfs | → |
| Martigney Creek Near Arnold | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Baldwin Plant Cooling Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Randolph County
- Il 13 New Athens
- Phegley Resort Lane Randolph County
- North 1st Street 2252, Fayetteville
- Water Street Chester
- St Ellen Mine Trail O'Fallon
Campgrounds
- Fort Kaskaskia State Park
- Randolph County State Conservation Area
- Scott Afb Military
- Washington County Lake State Conservation Area
- Pyramid State Park
Track Baldwin Plant Cooling 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 Baldwin Plant Cooling Lake Dam
Where does the data for Baldwin Plant Cooling 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 Baldwin Plant Cooling Lake Dam.