Hess Pond Dam dam
Hess Pond Dam
Hess Pond Dam, located in Morgan County, Illinois, was completed in 1969 by the USDA NRCS and serves as a vital resource for fish and wildlife conservation, recreation, and other purposes. The earth dam stands at a height of 28 feet and spans a length of 268 feet, with a storage capacity of 45 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspection, with a low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment rating.
The primary purpose of the Hess Pond Dam is to create a fish and wildlife pond, providing essential habitat for local fauna and recreational opportunities for visitors. The dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, allowing for the controlled release of water in times of high flow. Despite its age, the dam is maintained in good condition, although specific details of its assessment are not currently available.
As a key feature of the TR- SNAKE CREEK N watershed, Hess Pond Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. With its strategic location and functional design, the dam continues to support biodiversity, recreational activities, and water management efforts in Morgan County, Illinois.
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 Hess Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sangamon River At Petersburg | 1,960 cfs | → |
| Sangamon River Near Oakford | 3,110 cfs | → |
| Illinois River At Valley City | 33,100 cfs | → |
| Spring Creek At Springfield | 117 cfs | → |
| La Moine River At Ripley | 416 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek Near Greenview | 1,020 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hess Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Gridley Road Cass County
- Gurney Road Cass County
- County Highway 11 Cass County
- Waverly Lake Road Morgan County
- Florance Boat Ramp
Track Hess 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 Hess Pond Dam
Where does the data for Hess 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 Hess Pond Dam.