Fresh Water Lake dam
Fresh Water Lake
Fresh Water Lake in Farmersville, Illinois is a privately owned water supply lake regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The dam at Fresh Water Lake is an earth dam with a height of 28 feet, providing a storage capacity of 1540 acre-feet. The primary purpose of the dam is to supply water, and it is considered to have a significant hazard potential.
Located in Macoupin County, Fresh Water Lake is managed by private owners and falls under state jurisdiction with required permitting, inspection, and enforcement by the IDNR. The Mine Safety and Health Administration oversees regulatory aspects of the dam, ensuring compliance with safety standards. While the dam's condition assessment is currently not available, its hazard potential indicates the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to protect the surrounding community and environment.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate in Illinois can appreciate the significance of Fresh Water Lake as a vital water supply source in the region. With its strategic location and state-regulated status, the lake serves as a critical infrastructure for water management and conservation efforts in the area. Ongoing inspection and maintenance are essential to ensure the safety and sustainability of Fresh Water Lake for both current and future generations of residents and wildlife in Macoupin County.
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 Fresh Water Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Sangamon River Nr Rochester | 673 cfs | → |
| East Fork Shoal Creek Near Coffeen | 27 cfs | → |
| Spring Creek At Springfield | 117 cfs | → |
| Sangamon River At Riverton | 1,610 cfs | → |
| Macoupin Creek Near Kane | 842 cfs | → |
| Lake Fork Near Cornland | 182 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fresh Water Lake.
Boat launches
- Beach House Trail 4292, Litchfield
- Waverly Lake Road Morgan County
- Christian County
- Island Bay Lane Springfield
- East Lake Shore Drive 182, Springfield
Track Fresh Water Lake 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 Fresh Water Lake
Where does the data for Fresh Water Lake 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 Fresh Water Lake.