Smallpox Creek Dam dam
Smallpox Creek Dam
Smallpox Creek Dam, also known as Lake Galena, is a privately owned recreational dam located in Jo Daviess, Illinois. Built in 1974 by Bauer Engineering Inc., this rockfill dam stands at 60 feet high and stretches 1100 feet long, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 6500 acre-feet. The dam sits on Smallpox Creek and is regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance.
With a high hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, Smallpox Creek Dam is closely monitored for any potential safety issues. Its spillway is uncontrolled with a width of 273 feet, and the dam does not feature any outlet gates or associated locks. Despite its remote location, the dam poses a risk to downstream areas in the event of a breach or failure. Emergency action plans were last revised in 1990, showcasing the need for updated measures to mitigate risks and ensure the safety of surrounding communities.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Smallpox Creek Dam serves as a significant recreational structure in Illinois, offering opportunities for water-based activities and wildlife habitat. However, its aging infrastructure and high hazard potential highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to prevent any potential threats to public safety and the environment. As climate change impacts continue to affect water resources, the resilience and safety of dams like Smallpox Creek become increasingly vital for sustainable water management and community protection.
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 Smallpox Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sinsinawa River Near Menominee | 22 cfs | → |
| Apple River Near Hanover | 121 cfs | → |
| Pecatonica River At Darlington | 259 cfs | → |
| North Fork Maquoketa River Near Fulton | 420 cfs | → |
| Maquoketa River Near Maquoketa | 1,340 cfs | → |
| Platte River Near Rockville | 216 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Smallpox Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Decatur Street Galena
- Galena River -- Izaak Walton League - Boat Access
- Grand River Staircase Bellevue
- Great River Road Jackson County
- Massey Marina Lane Dubuque County
Campgrounds
- Spruce Creek County Park
- Spruce Creek County Park Campground
- Bellevue State Park
- Camp Office
- Duck Creek County Park
- Massey Marina
Track Smallpox Creek 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 Smallpox Creek Dam
Where does the data for Smallpox Creek 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 High 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 Smallpox Creek Dam.