Belford Lake Dam dam
Belford Lake Dam
Belford Lake Dam, located in Williamson, Illinois, was completed in 1966 and serves as a crucial water resource for the area. This private dam, with a primary purpose of recreation, stands at a height of 26 feet and has a storage capacity of 155 acre-feet. The dam, constructed with an earth core and buttress design, spans a length of 385 feet and features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 50 feet.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Belford Lake Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is subject to regular inspections every 5 years to assess its condition and address any potential risks. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam is equipped with emergency protocols in case of unforeseen events, although detailed emergency action plans are yet to be prepared and updated.
Overall, Belford Lake Dam stands as a vital infrastructure for both water management and recreational activities in the region. Its strategic location along the Trib Little Cana Creek highlights its importance in maintaining water resources and ensuring public safety, making it a key focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
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 Belford Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Crab Orchard Creek Near Marion | 4 cfs | → |
| South Fork Saline River Nr Carrier Mills | 42 cfs | → |
| Big Muddy River At Plumfield | 268 cfs | → |
| Cache River At Forman | 13 cfs | → |
| Lusk Creek Near Eddyville | 147 cfs | → |
| Big Muddy River At Rte 127 At Murphysboro | 248 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Belford Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Hickory Johnson County
- Reservoir Road 11298, Williamson County
- Meadowlark Road Williamson County
- Town Park Road Saline County
- Devil's Kitchen Boat Dock
- Broken Handle Lane 2599, Williamson County
Campgrounds
- Camp Ondessonk
- Turkey Ridge Tent Campground
- Devil's Kitchen Campground
- Teal Pond Campground
- Red Bud Campground
- Little Grassy Campground & Marina
Fishing spots
- Lake Of Egypt
- Little Cache Lake #1 (Bowman Lake)
- Dutchman Lake
- One Horse Gap Lake
- Lake Tecumseh
- Whoopie Cat Lake
Paddle runs
- 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
- 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
Track Belford 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 Belford Lake Dam
Where does the data for Belford 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 Belford Lake Dam.