Brooks Lake Dam dam
Brooks Lake Dam
Brooks Lake Dam in Crawford County, Illinois, was completed in 1950 for the primary purpose of recreation. The dam, classified as an Earth type dam with a buttress core, stands at a height of 29 feet and spans a length of 520 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 485 acre-feet. Located on the west branch of Honey Creek, the dam offers opportunities for outdoor activities such as fishing and boating, making it a popular spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore.
Managed by a private owner, Brooks Lake Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. With a low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment rating, the dam has an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates. While the condition assessment is not available at the moment, the dam is inspected every 5 years to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite its age, Brooks Lake Dam continues to serve its recreational purpose while maintaining a responsible approach to risk management and emergency preparedness.
Located in a picturesque setting in the city of Lawrenceville, Brooks Lake Dam offers a peaceful retreat for visitors to enjoy nature and water-based activities. With its historical significance and ongoing maintenance efforts, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of preserving water resources for future generations. For water resource and climate enthusiasts looking to appreciate the intersection of engineering and natural beauty, Brooks Lake Dam is a must-visit destination in Illinois.
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 Brooks Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Embarras River Near Oblong | 160 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At Riverton Ind | 10,600 cfs | → |
| Embarras River At Ste. Marie | 1,420 cfs | → |
| Embarras River At Lawrenceville | 2,360 cfs | → |
| Busseron Creek Near Carlisle | 200 cfs | → |
| Little Wabash River Below Clay City | 1,110 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brooks Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- East Cherry Street 543, Hutsonville
- Poplar Street 8570, Merom
- County Road 300 Knox County
- County Road 1285 North Richland County
- Sullivan County
- Apple Street Darwin
Track Brooks 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 Brooks Lake Dam
Where does the data for Brooks 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 Low 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 Brooks Lake Dam.