Woods Lake Dam dam
Woods Lake Dam
Woods Lake Dam in Illinois is a privately owned structure built in 1953 for recreational purposes. Located in Fulton County, the dam stands at 21 feet tall and spans a length of 272 feet, creating a storage capacity of 268 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Put Creek-offstream and is regulated and inspected by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Woods Lake Dam is considered to have a moderate risk level according to a recent assessment. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with a condition assessment currently listed as not available. Emergency action plans and risk management measures for the dam are also not specified in the available data. The last inspection was conducted in November 2017, with a frequency of inspection set at every five years.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Woods Lake Dam presents an interesting case study in dam management and risk assessment. With its recreational primary purpose and potential for moderate risk, further evaluation of the dam's condition and the implementation of emergency preparedness measures could be beneficial. The dam's location on Put Creek-offstream adds to its significance in the local landscape, making it an important structure to monitor for water resource and climate impact in the region.
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 Woods Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spoon River At Seville | 671 cfs | → |
| Spoon River At London Mills | 602 cfs | → |
| Illinois River At Kingston Mines | 9,310 cfs | → |
| Mackinaw River Near Green Valley | 410 cfs | → |
| Sangamon River Near Oakford | 3,240 cfs | → |
| Fondulac Creek Near East Peoria | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Woods Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeland Park Road 26005, Canton
- Sebree Road Fulton County
- Spring Lake Road Tazewell County
- West Jefferson Street 598, Havana
- Mendenhall Park
Track Woods 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 Woods Lake Dam
Where does the data for Woods 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 Woods Lake Dam.