Wildwood Lake Dam dam
Wildwood Lake Dam
Wildwood Lake Dam, located in Henry, Illinois on Shaw Creek, was completed in 1969 and serves as a recreational spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts. Managed by a private owner, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 84 feet and stretches 1385 feet in length. With a maximum storage capacity of 9424 acre-feet and a drainage area of 12.4 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in flood control and water resource management in the area.
Despite its important role, Wildwood Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential and has a moderate risk assessment rating. Although the condition assessment is not available, the dam undergoes regular inspections by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with a maximum discharge capacity of 8560 cubic feet per second. With its scenic surroundings and recreational opportunities, Wildwood Lake Dam is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and serves as a key feature in the local water infrastructure.
As climate change continues to impact water resources, the management and maintenance of dams like Wildwood Lake Dam become increasingly important. With its location in Marshall County, Illinois, and its association with the Rock Island District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Wildwood Lake Dam stands as a testament to the vital role that infrastructure plays in water resource management and climate resilience.
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 Wildwood Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois River At Henry | 8,790 cfs | → |
| East Bureau Creek Near Bureau | 2 cfs | → |
| Vermilion River Near Leonore | 523 cfs | → |
| Big Bureau Creek At Princeton | 43 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Wyoming | 19 cfs | → |
| Fondulac Creek Near East Peoria | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wildwood Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Main Street Henry
- West Pine Street 1, Chillicothe
- Il 89 Spring Valley
- Ed Hand Highway 95, Deer Park
- Il 71 Lasalle County
- Lakeview Drive 1717, Eureka
Campgrounds
- Woodford State Conservation Area
- Lake De Pue City Park
- Horseback Campground @ Matthiessen State Park
- Starved Rock State Park
- Kickapoo Creek Rec Area Campsite
- Carl Spindler
Fishing spots
Track Wildwood 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 Wildwood Lake Dam
Where does the data for Wildwood 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 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 Wildwood Lake Dam.