Lake Nellie Dam dam
Lake Nellie Dam
Located in Fayette, Illinois, Lake Nellie Dam is a significant earth structure that was completed in 1963 for recreational and water supply purposes. Managed by the local government, this dam on the South Fork Sugar Creek has a height of 41 feet and a length of 460 feet, with a storage capacity of 1478 acre-feet. With a surface area of 67 acres and a drainage area of 2.5 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in regulating water levels in the region.
Despite its age, Lake Nellie Dam is inspected regularly to ensure its safety and functionality, with the last inspection conducted in May 2019. Classified as having a significant hazard potential, the dam is equipped with uncontrolled spillways and outlets. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures. With a maximum discharge capacity of 6095 cubic feet per second, Lake Nellie Dam remains a key infrastructure for water resource management in the area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lake Nellie Dam serves as a prime example of the vital role that dams play in providing recreational opportunities and water supply management. With its earth structure design and strategic location on the South Fork Sugar Creek, this dam continues to be a crucial asset for the community of Vandalia and the surrounding area. As efforts continue to monitor and assess the condition of the dam, it underscores the importance of maintaining and managing such structures for the sustainable use of water resources 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 Lake Nellie Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hickory Creek Nr Brownstown | 14 cfs | → |
| Kaskaskia River Near Cowden | 1,780 cfs | → |
| Kaskaskia River At Vandalia | 2,210 cfs | → |
| Little Wabash River Near Effingham | 96 cfs | → |
| Hurricane Creek Near Mulberry Grove | 53 cfs | → |
| Kaskaskia River At Shelbyville | 1,550 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Nellie Dam.
Track Lake Nellie 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 Lake Nellie Dam
Where does the data for Lake Nellie 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 Lake Nellie Dam.