Lake Kakusha Dam dam
Lake Kakusha Dam
Lake Kakusha Dam, located in Mendota, Illinois, is a vital structure built in 1981 by the USDA NRCS with the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along Mendota Creek. This earth-type dam stands at 29 feet high and stretches over 2150 feet, holding a storage capacity of 1827 acre-feet to manage potential flooding in the region. Managed by the local government, the dam is regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, ensuring state inspection, permitting, and enforcement to maintain its integrity.
With a high hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment, Lake Kakusha Dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding LaSalle County from flooding events. The spillway, width of 215 feet, and uncontrolled outlet gates serve as essential features for managing excess water flow during heavy rainfall. The dam's condition assessment is currently not available, highlighting the need for regular monitoring and maintenance to uphold its functionality and ensure public safety in the face of climate change challenges.
As a key component of flood risk reduction infrastructure in Illinois, Lake Kakusha Dam stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts between local government and federal agencies like the Natural Resources Conservation Service. With a history of consistent state inspections and a designated emergency action plan, the dam continues to serve as a critical resource for water resource and climate enthusiasts, showcasing the importance of proactive measures in mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events on communities and ecosystems.
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 Lake Kakusha Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Bureau Creek Near Bureau | 2 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Dayton | 1,700 cfs | → |
| Big Bureau Creek At Princeton | 50 cfs | → |
| Vermilion River Near Leonore | 487 cfs | → |
| Illinois River At Marseilles | 5,340 cfs | → |
| South Branch Kishwaukee River At Dekalb | 35 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Kakusha Dam.
Boat launches
- Il 89 Spring Valley
- Ed Hand Highway 95, Deer Park
- Tomahawk Trail Dekalb County
- Il 71 Lasalle County
- Courtney Street Ottawa
- Calumet Street Ottawa
Campgrounds
- Starved Rock State Park
- Lake De Pue City Park
- Horseback Campground @ Matthiessen State Park
- Green River State Wildlife Area
- Illini State Park
- Camping Islands
Track Lake Kakusha 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 Lake Kakusha Dam
Where does the data for Lake Kakusha 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 Lake Kakusha Dam.