Briarwood Lake Dam dam
Briarwood Lake Dam
Briarwood Lake Dam, located in Macoupin, Illinois, serves as a crucial recreational resource while also helping to manage water levels on the TRIB WEST FORK WOOD RIVER. This private structure stands at 30 feet high and stretches 400 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 250 acre-feet. With a surface area of 25 acres, the dam's primary purpose is for recreation, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water-based activities.
Maintained and regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Briarwood Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment level. The dam's condition and emergency preparedness are regularly monitored, with inspections occurring every five years to ensure its safety and functionality. While the exact year of completion is unknown, the dam continues to play a vital role in water management and recreation in the area.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Briarwood Lake Dam to be an intriguing structure situated in a picturesque location. With its earth buttress design and uncontrolled spillway, the dam represents a harmonious blend of human engineering and natural beauty. As a key feature in the local landscape, this dam serves as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices and the preservation of natural resources in 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 Briarwood Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Creek At Wanda | 173 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Florissant | 4 cfs | → |
| Coldwater Creek Near Black Jack | 165 cfs | → |
| Cahokia Creek At Edwardsville | 2,300 cfs | → |
| Watkins Creek Near Bellefontaine Neighbors | 0 cfs | → |
| Watkins Creek At Bellefontaine Nbr | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Briarwood Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Mc Adams Highway Jersey County
- Riverlands Way West Alton
- Saale Road West Alton
- Old Jamestown
- Spanish Pond Road Spanish Lake
- Spanish Lake
Track Briarwood 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 Briarwood Lake Dam
Where does the data for Briarwood 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 Briarwood Lake Dam.