New Thompson Lake Dam dam
New Thompson Lake Dam
New Thompson Lake Dam, located in Murphysboro, Illinois, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1957 for the primary purpose of recreation. With a height of 16 feet and a length of 390 feet, the dam impounds the New Thompson Lake, providing a storage capacity of 116 acre-feet. The dam is state-regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, with regular inspections and enforcement ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 67 feet and a low hazard potential, making it a relatively safe structure. While the condition assessment is not available, the risk assessment is moderate, indicating a moderate level of risk associated with the dam. Despite its private ownership, the dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities and water resource management in the area. With its picturesque location on the TRIB BIG MUDDY RIVER-OFFSTREAM, New Thompson Lake Dam is a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking outdoor activities and scenic views in Jackson County, Illinois.
Overall, New Thompson Lake Dam serves as a vital infrastructure for both recreational and water resource purposes in the region. Its regulated status, regular inspections, and moderate risk assessment underscore the importance of maintaining the dam's integrity and ensuring its continued safety for the community. As a significant feature in the local landscape, the dam offers a blend of natural beauty and functional utility, making it a noteworthy site for visitors and residents alike to appreciate and enjoy.
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 New Thompson Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Muddy River At Rte 127 At Murphysboro | 523 cfs | → |
| Big Muddy River At Plumfield | 256 cfs | → |
| Crab Orchard Creek Near Marion | 2 cfs | → |
| South Fork Saline River Nr Carrier Mills | 22 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Chester | 247,000 cfs | → |
| Cache River At Forman | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near New Thompson Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Cedar Creek Boat Ramp
- Spillway Road Williamson County
- Campground Drive 10000, Williamson County
- Il-13 Williamson County
- Foreville Road Williamson County
Campgrounds
- Lake Murphysboro State Park
- Little Grassy Campground & Marina
- Turkey Bayou
- Devil's Kitchen Campground
- Horse Campground
- Johnson Creek Campground
Fishing spots
- Lake Of Egypt
- Dutchman Lake
- Little Cache Lake #1 (Bowman Lake)
- One Horse Gap Lake
- Lake Tecumseh
- Whoopie Cat Lake
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)
- Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop To Confluence With Ohio River At Golconda,Il
- Wallace Cemetery Approx 2.5 Miles Nw Of Herod, Il To Confluence With Ohio River At Golconda Jobs Corp Center
Track New Thompson 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 New Thompson Lake Dam
Where does the data for New Thompson 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 New Thompson Lake Dam.