White Oak Lake Dam dam
White Oak Lake Dam
White Oak Lake Dam, located in Germantown Hills, Illinois, was completed in 1983 and serves as a recreational site along the White Oak Lake. The dam, with a height of 58 feet and a length of 600 feet, is primarily used for recreation purposes and is owned privately. It is regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and is inspected regularly to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations. The dam has a low hazard potential and is classified as having a moderate risk level.
Managed by the designer firm DOWIATT & VAN HENELUM, White Oak Lake Dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 55 feet and a maximum discharge of 3,083 cubic feet per second. The dam has a storage capacity of 901 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 554 acre-feet. Although the condition assessment of the dam is not available, it is deemed to meet guidelines for emergency action plans and risk management measures.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, White Oak Lake Dam offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of recreational activities and dam infrastructure in a picturesque setting. With its controlled yet natural spillway and impressive storage capacity, the dam provides a fascinating case study for those interested in the role of dams in water management and environmental conservation efforts.
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 White Oak Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fondulac Creek Near East Peoria | 10 cfs | → |
| Farm Creek At Farmdale | 10 cfs | → |
| Mackinaw River Near Congerville | 283 cfs | → |
| Illinois River At Kingston Mines | 9,660 cfs | → |
| Mackinaw River Near Green Valley | 414 cfs | → |
| Illinois River At Henry | 10,500 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near White Oak Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- West Pine Street 1, Chillicothe
- Lakeview Drive 1717, Eureka
- Mendenhall Park
- Main Street Henry
- North 1200 East Road Mclean County
- Spring Lake Road Tazewell County
Track White Oak 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 White Oak Lake Dam
Where does the data for White Oak 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 White Oak Lake Dam.