Red Hawk Dam dam
Red Hawk Dam
Red Hawk Dam, also known as Elks Reservoir, is a privately owned structure situated in Perry County, Illinois, along Panther Creek. Completed in 1930, this earth dam stands at a height of 16 feet and spans 510 feet in length. With a primary purpose of recreation, the dam boasts a storage capacity of 61 acre-feet, providing a serene and scenic environment for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Red Hawk Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates. The risk assessment for this structure is moderate, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate any potential risks and ensure the safety of the surrounding community.
Though its condition assessment is currently unavailable, Red Hawk Dam continues to serve as a recreational oasis in the heart of Vergennes, Illinois. With its tranquil waters and picturesque surroundings, this dam is a testament to the harmonious coexistence of human infrastructure and natural beauty in the water resource and climate conservation landscape.
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 Red Hawk Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rayse Creek Near Waltonville | 10 cfs | → |
| Big Muddy River At Plumfield | 232 cfs | → |
| Big Muddy River At Rte 127 At Murphysboro | 387 cfs | → |
| Little Crooked Creek Near New Minden | 4 cfs | → |
| Casey Fork At Mount Vernon | 48 cfs | → |
| Kaskaskia River Near Venedy Station | 5,930 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Red Hawk Dam.
Boat launches
- Franklin County
- Jefferson County
- Rend Lake Bike Trail Franklin County
- Il 151 Jackson County
- Illinois Route 154 Franklin County
Campgrounds
- Pyramid State Park
- Washington County Lake State Conservation Area
- Johnson Creek Campground
- Johnson Creek
- Lake Murphysboro State Park
- Turkey Bayou
Paddle runs
- 1/2 Mile Downstream Of Confluence With Kinkaid Creek To Confluence With Mississippi River, Approx 4 Miles South Of Grand Tower, Il
- 1 Mile West Of Alto Pass, Il To 1/2 Mile South Of Confluence With Clear Creek, West Of Trail Of Tears State Forest
- 1 Minle Southwest Of Delwood, Il (Sec. 18, T11s, R13e) To Reesville, 1/4 Mile South Of The Confluence With Sugar Creek
- Source, About 2 Miles East Of Delwood, Il (Sec 10, T11s, R6e) To Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop (Se1/4,Sec.16,T12s, R6e)
Track Red Hawk 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 Red Hawk Dam
Where does the data for Red Hawk 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 Red Hawk Dam.