Lake Jacksonville Dam dam
Lake Jacksonville Dam
Lake Jacksonville Dam, located in Belltown, Illinois, is a vital structure designed by WARREN & VAN PRAAG, INC. It serves multiple purposes, including recreation and water supply, with a primary focus on offering recreational opportunities to the local community. Completed in 1939, this earth dam stands at a height of 54 feet and stretches approximately 980 feet in length, with a maximum storage capacity of 12,812 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 6,099 acre-feet.
Managed by the local government, the dam is regulated and permitted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), ensuring regular inspections and enforcement of safety measures. With a significant hazard potential due to its location on Sandy Creek, Lake Jacksonville Dam has a controlled spillway with a width of 160 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 14,582 cubic feet per second. The dam's risk assessment is categorized as moderate, highlighting the need for ongoing risk management measures to safeguard the surrounding area.
As a popular spot for outdoor activities and water recreation, Lake Jacksonville Dam plays a crucial role in providing both leisure opportunities and essential water resources to the region. With its picturesque setting and strategic design, the dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management and environmental stewardship in Morgan County, 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 Jacksonville Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois River At Valley City | 27,800 cfs | → |
| Spring Creek At Springfield | 176 cfs | → |
| Sangamon River At Petersburg | 2,120 cfs | → |
| Bay Creek At Pittsfield | 43 cfs | → |
| Macoupin Creek Near Kane | 1,180 cfs | → |
| La Moine River At Ripley | 917 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Jacksonville Dam.
Boat launches
- Waverly Lake Road Morgan County
- Gridley Road Cass County
- Florance Boat Ramp
- County Highway 11 Cass County
- Gurney Road Cass County
Track Lake Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville Dam
Where does the data for Lake Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville Dam.