Sutton Pond Dam dam
Sutton Pond Dam
Sutton Pond Dam, located in Tazewell, Illinois, is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS in 1965 for recreational purposes. The dam stands at a height of 27 feet and spans 226 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a capacity of 104 acre-feet of water and a surface area of 6 acres. Situated on the TRIB MACKINAW RIVER, the dam serves as a popular spot for outdoor activities and leisure.
With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, Sutton Pond Dam is regulated and inspected by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to ensure its safety and compliance with state standards. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with a maximum discharge capacity of 544 cubic feet per second. Despite its age, the dam's condition assessment is currently unavailable, but it is subject to regular inspections every five years to monitor its structural integrity and overall functionality.
The surrounding area of GREEN VALLEY-OFFSTREEAM offers a picturesque setting for visitors to enjoy fishing, boating, and other recreational activities at Sutton Pond Dam. Managed by private owners, the dam continues to provide a peaceful retreat for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking to connect with nature and appreciate the beauty of Illinois' waterways.
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 Sutton Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Farm Creek At Farmdale | 11 cfs | → |
| Mackinaw River Near Green Valley | 431 cfs | → |
| Fondulac Creek Near East Peoria | 0 cfs | → |
| Mackinaw River Near Congerville | 286 cfs | → |
| Illinois River At Kingston Mines | 11,700 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek Near Bloomington | 30 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sutton Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Mendenhall Park
- Lakeview Drive 1717, Eureka
- North 1200 East Road Mclean County
- Spring Lake Road Tazewell County
- West Pine Street 1, Chillicothe
- Sebree Road Fulton County
Track Sutton 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 Sutton Pond Dam
Where does the data for Sutton 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 Sutton Pond Dam.