Willow Wood Lake Dam dam
Willow Wood Lake Dam
Willow Wood Lake Dam, located in Smithton, Illinois, is a privately owned structure designed by THOUVENOT, WADE & MOERCHEN, INC. The dam was completed in 2003 and serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 8.3 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 214 acre-feet. Situated on the tributary West Fork Richland Creek, the dam stands at 36 feet tall and stretches 580 feet in length, with a spillway width of 13 feet.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Willow Wood Lake Dam is state-regulated and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is considered to have a moderate risk level (3), reflecting the importance of ongoing risk management measures. With a serene setting and ample recreational opportunities, the dam continues to be a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts in St. Clair County, Illinois.
As an integral part of the local ecosystem, Willow Wood Lake Dam plays a crucial role in water storage and management for the surrounding area. Its presence not only provides recreational benefits but also contributes to the overall resilience of the region in the face of changing climate patterns. With proper oversight and maintenance, this earth dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management in safeguarding community well-being and environmental integrity.
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 Willow Wood Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Richland Creek Near Hecker | 50 cfs | → |
| Silver Creek Near Freeburg | 87 cfs | → |
| Kaskaskia River At New Athens | 6,750 cfs | → |
| Martigney Creek Near Arnold | 3 cfs | → |
| Gravois Creek Near Mehlville | 498 cfs | → |
| River Des Peres At St. Louis | 4,340 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Willow Wood Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Il 13 New Athens
- North 1st Street 2252, Fayetteville
- St Ellen Mine Trail O'Fallon
- Randolph County
- Davis Street Ferry Road East Carondelet
- Williamson Road Oakville
Campgrounds
- Scott Afb Military
- Horseshoe Lake Recreation Area
- Fort Kaskaskia State Park
- Randolph County State Conservation Area
Paddle runs
Track Willow Wood 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 Willow Wood Lake Dam
Where does the data for Willow Wood 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 Willow Wood Lake Dam.