Charley Brown Park Lake Dam dam
Charley Brown Park Lake Dam
Charley Brown Park Lake Dam, located in Clay County, Illinois, is a recreational earth dam built in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The dam stands at a height of 19 feet and spans 350 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 79 acre-feet of water for the Charley Brown Park Lake. The primary purpose of the dam is for recreation, offering visitors a serene environment to enjoy outdoor activities along the tributary of Raccoon Creek.
The dam is regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) with state jurisdiction and permitting in place. Despite its significant hazard potential, with a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam has not had a condition assessment available since its last inspection in 2012. The spillway of the dam is uncontrolled, with a width of 39 feet, and the outlet gates are also uncontrolled. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status and risk management measures are not available, highlighting potential areas for improvement in ensuring the safety and reliability of the structure for both water resource and climate enthusiasts who frequent the area.
In the picturesque setting of Charley Brown Park Lake Dam, water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the historical significance and recreational opportunities offered by this WPA-designed structure. With its serene surroundings and potential for outdoor activities, the dam serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring such infrastructure to ensure the safety and enjoyment of visitors. As efforts continue to assess and improve the dam's condition and emergency preparedness, stakeholders can work towards enhancing the sustainability and resilience of this vital water resource feature in Clay County, Illinois.
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 Charley Brown Park Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Wabash River Below Clay City | 172 cfs | → |
| Skillet Fork At Wayne City | 27 cfs | → |
| Hickory Creek Nr Brownstown | 4 cfs | → |
| East Fork Kaskaskia River Near Sandoval | 10 cfs | → |
| Little Wabash River Near Effingham | 35 cfs | → |
| Casey Fork At Mount Vernon | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Charley Brown Park Lake Dam.
Campgrounds
Track Charley Brown Park 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 Charley Brown Park Lake Dam
Where does the data for Charley Brown Park 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 Charley Brown Park Lake Dam.