Freesen Lake Dam dam
Freesen Lake Dam
Freesen Lake Dam, located in Florence, Illinois, serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond management. Built in 1967 by the USDA NRCS, this private-owned earth dam stands at a height of 31 feet and has a length of 480 feet. With a storage capacity of 203 acre-feet and a spillway width of 59 feet, the dam is designed to manage the waters of Plum Creek-Offstream effectively.
Managed and regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Freesen Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. Despite its age, the dam has not undergone a recent condition assessment, but regular inspections are conducted every five years to ensure its safety and structural integrity. The dam's emergency action plan status, inundation maps, and risk management measures are currently not available, indicating a need for continued monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential risks.
Overall, Freesen Lake Dam stands as a vital infrastructure for water resource management in Scott County, Illinois, providing essential services while warranting ongoing oversight and maintenance to uphold its functionality and safeguard against potential emergencies. For enthusiasts of water resources and climate, this dam serves as a focal point for understanding the intersection of human infrastructure with natural ecosystems and the importance of sustainable management practices in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Freesen Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois River At Valley City | 33,100 cfs | → |
| Bay Creek At Pittsfield | 43 cfs | → |
| La Moine River At Ripley | 416 cfs | → |
| Macoupin Creek Near Kane | 842 cfs | → |
| Sangamon River Near Oakford | 3,110 cfs | → |
| Sangamon River At Petersburg | 1,960 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Freesen Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Florance Boat Ramp
- Waverly Lake Road Morgan County
- Gridley Road Cass County
- State Park Road Adams County
- Oak Street Kampsville
- Gurney Road Cass County
Track Freesen 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 Freesen Lake Dam
Where does the data for Freesen 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 Freesen Lake Dam.