Osage Lake Dam dam
Osage Lake Dam
Osage Lake Dam in Brighton, Illinois, is a private-owned structure designed for flood risk reduction along the West Fork Wood River. The dam stands at a height of 38 feet and spans 220 feet in length, serving as a vital component in managing water resources in the area. While its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, the dam's significant hazard potential underscores the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its effectiveness in safeguarding the surrounding community.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Osage Lake Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state to meet safety standards. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam's condition assessment is currently unavailable, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures. With a spillway type of uncontrolled and a hazard potential deemed significant, the dam's role in water resource management and climate resilience cannot be understated.
As a critical infrastructure in the St. Louis District, Osage Lake Dam's presence underscores the interconnectedness of water resources and climate resilience. With its earth dam type and buttress core design, the structure plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks and protecting the Macoupin County area. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding and appreciating the significance of Osage Lake Dam is essential in promoting sustainable water management practices and enhancing community resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Osage Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Creek At Wanda | 22 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Florissant | 1 cfs | → |
| Cahokia Creek At Edwardsville | 97 cfs | → |
| Coldwater Creek Near Black Jack | 36 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 Osage 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 Osage 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 Osage Lake Dam
Where does the data for Osage 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 Significant 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 Osage Lake Dam.