Crab Orchard Dam dam
Crab Orchard Dam
Crab Orchard Dam, located in Carbondale, Illinois, is a federally owned structure managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Completed in 1939, this earth dam stands at 57 feet in height and serves as a Fish and Wildlife Pond for the preservation of local ecosystems and recreational activities. With a storage capacity of 254,000 acre-feet and a drainage area of 199.9 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
The dam underwent several modifications in 1980, 1991, and 2010 to enhance its hydraulic and structural integrity. It features outlet gates for controlled water release and a spillway width of 1361 feet. Despite its high hazard potential, Crab Orchard Dam is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of September 2020. The dam is subject to regular inspections and maintained by the Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure its safety and functionality for both wildlife conservation and public recreation purposes.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts visiting Crab Orchard Dam can appreciate its significance in maintaining a balance between ecological preservation and recreational activities. With its strategic location on Crab Orchard Creek and close proximity to Carbondale, the dam serves as a vital water management infrastructure in Williamson County, Illinois. Its history of construction, ongoing maintenance, and impact on the local environment make Crab Orchard Dam a compelling site for those interested in the intersection of water resources and wildlife conservation efforts.
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 Crab Orchard Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Muddy River At Rte 127 At Murphysboro | 523 cfs | → |
| Crab Orchard Creek Near Marion | 2 cfs | → |
| Big Muddy River At Plumfield | 256 cfs | → |
| South Fork Saline River Nr Carrier Mills | 22 cfs | → |
| Cache River At Forman | 3 cfs | → |
| Lusk Creek Near Eddyville | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Crab Orchard Dam.
Boat launches
- Spillway Road Williamson County
- Campground Drive 10000, Williamson County
- Il-13 Williamson County
- Foreville Road Williamson County
- Broken Handle Lane 2599, Williamson County
Campgrounds
- Little Grassy Campground & Marina
- Devil's Kitchen Campground
- Horse Campground
- Lake Murphysboro State Park
- Turkey Bayou
- Turkey Ridge Tent Campground
Fishing spots
- Lake Of Egypt
- Dutchman Lake
- Little Cache Lake #1 (Bowman Lake)
- One Horse Gap Lake
- Lake Tecumseh
- Whoopie Cat Lake
Paddle runs
- 1 Mile West Of Alto Pass, Il To 1/2 Mile South Of Confluence With Clear Creek, West Of Trail Of Tears State Forest
- 1/2 Mile Downstream Of Confluence With Kinkaid Creek To Confluence With Mississippi River, Approx 4 Miles South Of Grand Tower, Il
- 1 Minle Southwest Of Delwood, Il (Sec. 18, T11s, R13e) To Reesville, 1/4 Mile South Of The Confluence With Sugar Creek
- Source, About 2 Miles East Of Delwood, Il (Sec 10, T11s, R6e) To Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop (Se1/4,Sec.16,T12s, R6e)
- Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop To Confluence With Ohio River At Golconda,Il
- Wallace Cemetery Approx 2.5 Miles Nw Of Herod, Il To Confluence With Ohio River At Golconda Jobs Corp Center
Track Crab Orchard 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 Crab Orchard Dam
Where does the data for Crab Orchard 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 Crab Orchard Dam.