Sears Lake Dam dam
Sears Lake Dam
Sears Lake Dam, located in Mackinaw, Illinois, was completed in 1971 and serves as a recreational spot for water and climate enthusiasts. The dam, with a height of 31 feet and a length of 365 feet, impounds Funks Branch and offers a storage capacity of 177 acre-feet. The primary purpose of this privately-owned dam is for recreation, providing a serene environment for activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Sears Lake Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state agency to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam's spillway, with a width of 69 feet, is uncontrolled and has a low hazard potential. Although the condition assessment is not available, the risk assessment has been classified as moderate. Emergency action plans are in place, and the dam undergoes inspections every five years to maintain its integrity and safety standards.
Overall, Sears Lake Dam offers a picturesque setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy various recreational activities while maintaining a moderate level of risk. With its strategic location in McLean County, Illinois, and managed by the state regulatory agency, the dam serves as a vital resource for water storage, flood control, and wildlife habitat preservation 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 Sears Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mackinaw River Near Congerville | 286 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek Near Bloomington | 30 cfs | → |
| Farm Creek At Farmdale | 11 cfs | → |
| Fondulac Creek Near East Peoria | 0 cfs | → |
| Kickapoo Creek At Waynesville | 102 cfs | → |
| Mackinaw River Near Green Valley | 431 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sears Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeview Drive 1717, Eureka
- North 1200 East Road Mclean County
- Mendenhall Park
- West Pine Street 1, Chillicothe
Track Sears 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 Sears Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sears 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 Sears Lake Dam.