Potters Pond Dam dam
Potters Pond Dam
Potters Pond Dam, located in Muddy, Illinois, is a private-owned structure designed by Dr. J. P. Caraness and completed in 1972. The dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, with a height of 22 feet and a length of 650 feet. Situated on the Middle Fork Saline River tributary, the dam has a storage capacity of 146 acre-feet, providing a tranquil water source for outdoor activities such as fishing and boating.
Despite being regulated and inspected by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Potters Pond Dam has a low hazard potential but a high risk assessment rating. The condition assessment of the dam is currently not available, and there is no emergency action plan in place. The dam does not have a spillway and is not associated with any other structures. With its picturesque surroundings and recreational opportunities, the dam is a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking a peaceful retreat in Saline County, Illinois.
While Potters Pond Dam offers a serene setting for outdoor recreation, its high risk assessment underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and longevity. As efforts continue to assess and manage potential risks associated with the dam, visitors and stakeholders can appreciate the beauty and utility of this earth-type structure in the heart of Illinois's water resources.
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 Potters Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Saline River Nr Carrier Mills | 11 cfs | → |
| Crab Orchard Creek Near Marion | 2 cfs | → |
| Big Muddy River At Plumfield | 246 cfs | → |
| Lusk Creek Near Eddyville | 6 cfs | → |
| Little Wabash River At Carmi | 5,970 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Old Shawneetown | 259,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Potters Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Cotton Road Saline County
- Meadowlark Road Williamson County
- Town Park Road Saline County
- Trailhead Lane Franklin County
- Reservoir Road 11298, Williamson County
- Franklin County
Campgrounds
- Saline County State Fish & Wildlife Area
- Pharaoh Campground
- Teal Pond Campground
- Bear Branch Horse Resort
- High Knob Campground
- Red Bud Campground
Fishing spots
- Lake Of Egypt
- One Horse Gap Lake
- Little Cache Lake #1 (Bowman Lake)
- Lake Tecumseh
- Dutchman Lake
- Whoopie Cat Lake
Paddle runs
- Wallace Cemetery Approx 2.5 Miles Nw Of Herod, Il To Confluence With Ohio River At Golconda Jobs Corp Center
- Source, About 2 Miles East Of Delwood, Il (Sec 10, T11s, R6e) To Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop (Se1/4,Sec.16,T12s, R6e)
- 1 Minle Southwest Of Delwood, Il (Sec. 18, T11s, R13e) To Reesville, 1/4 Mile South Of The Confluence With Sugar Creek
- Russell Cemetery, Approx 1/4 Mile North Of Karbers Ridge Road To Proclamation Boundary, 1 Mile Nw Of Elizabethtown,Il
- Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop To Confluence With Ohio River At Golconda,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
Track Potters Pond 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 Potters Pond Dam
Where does the data for Potters Pond 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 Potters Pond Dam.