Acid Lake Dam dam
Acid Lake Dam
Acid Lake Dam, located in Depler Springs, Illinois, is a crucial earth dam constructed in 1950 with a primary purpose other than flood control or water supply. Designed by Frank Gaweda, this dam stands at a height of 28 feet and stretches 600 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 268 acre-feet. The dam serves as a barrier on the TRIB BIG CREEK-OFFSTREAM, with a spillway width of 2 feet and an uncontrolled spillway type.
Managed by a public utility, Acid Lake Dam is regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam poses a moderate risk due to its location and condition assessment not being available. With a drainage area of 0.8 square miles and a surface area of 17 acres, the dam plays a vital role in controlling water flow and providing essential water resources to the surrounding area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Acid Lake Dam offers a fascinating case study in dam infrastructure management and risk assessment. With its historical significance and ongoing regulatory oversight, this earth dam serves as a critical piece of infrastructure in the Fulton County region of Illinois. As climate change continues to impact water resources, understanding the role of dams like Acid Lake in managing water flow and mitigating risk becomes increasingly important for sustainable water management practices.
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 Acid Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spoon River At Seville | 675 cfs | → |
| Spoon River At London Mills | 473 cfs | → |
| Illinois River At Kingston Mines | 11,700 cfs | → |
| Sangamon River Near Oakford | 3,110 cfs | → |
| Mackinaw River Near Green Valley | 431 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek Near Greenview | 1,020 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Acid Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeland Park Road 26005, Canton
- West Jefferson Street 598, Havana
- Sebree Road Fulton County
- Spring Lake Road Tazewell County
- Mendenhall Park
Track Acid 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 Acid Lake Dam
Where does the data for Acid 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 Acid Lake Dam.