Airstrip Reservoir Dam dam
Airstrip Reservoir Dam
Located in Grafton, Illinois, the Airstrip Reservoir Dam, also known as Airstrip Reservoir, stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and recreational opportunities. Constructed in 1957 by the USDA NRCS, this private-owned dam serves as a vital facility for both water storage and leisure activities. With a dam height of 55 feet and a length of 500 feet, the Airstrip Reservoir Dam boasts a storage capacity of 170 acre-feet, making it a crucial component of the local water infrastructure.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Airstrip Reservoir Dam is subject to regular inspections and state regulations, ensuring its safety and compliance with environmental standards. The dam's spillway, with a width of 2 feet, is designed as uncontrolled, reflecting its high hazard potential. Despite its age, the dam continues to provide essential services to the community, offering a surface area of 7 acres for recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and wildlife observation.
As climate change brings about more frequent and severe weather events, the Airstrip Reservoir Dam plays a critical role in mitigating flood risks and managing water resources in the region. With a moderate risk assessment rating and a history of periodic inspections, this earth dam serves as a model for sustainable water management practices in the face of evolving climatic conditions. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Airstrip Reservoir Dam stands as a prime example of the importance of investing in resilient infrastructure to ensure the safety and well-being of both communities and the environment.
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 Airstrip Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mill Creek Near Florissant | 1 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At St. Charles | 178,000 cfs | → |
| Coldwater Creek Near Black Jack | 52 cfs | → |
| Cowmire Creek At Bridgeton | 4 cfs | → |
| Macoupin Creek Near Kane | 2,990 cfs | → |
| Dardenne Creek At Old Town St. Peters | 290 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Airstrip Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Mc Adams Highway Jersey County
- Saale Road West Alton
- Old Jamestown
- Lakeside Park Trail Saint Peters
- Katy Trail Saint Charles
- Saint Charles County
Track Airstrip 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 Airstrip Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Airstrip 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 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 Airstrip Reservoir Dam.