Old Five Lake Dam dam
Old Five Lake Dam
Old Five Lake Dam, located in Knox County, Illinois, was completed in 1945 and stands at a height of 35 feet, with a length of 300 feet. The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, offering a serene setting for water enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Situated on the TRIB LITTLERS CREEK, the dam is privately owned and regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance.
With a maximum storage capacity of 40 acre-feet, Old Five Lake Dam provides a tranquil retreat for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. The dam's low hazard potential, combined with its moderate risk assessment rating, indicates a relatively stable and secure structure. While the condition assessment is currently not available, regular inspections have been conducted, with the last inspection dating back to September 2012, ensuring the dam's continued functionality and safety for visitors and the surrounding ecosystem.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Old Five Lake Dam offers a glimpse into the intersection of human engineering and natural landscapes, providing a valuable recreational resource while maintaining a balance with the environment. As a privately owned earth dam with buttress core types, it showcases the importance of responsible stewardship and regulatory oversight in managing water resources for both present and future generations. Whether exploring its waters or admiring its structural design, Old Five Lake Dam serves as a captivating example of the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature in the realm of water management and conservation.
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 Old Five Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spoon River At London Mills | 441 cfs | → |
| Spoon River At Seville | 594 cfs | → |
| Illinois River At Kingston Mines | 12,400 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Wyoming | 13 cfs | → |
| Fondulac Creek Near East Peoria | · | → |
| Mackinaw River Near Green Valley | 335 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Old Five Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeland Park Road 26005, Canton
- Sebree Road Fulton County
- Gatewood Lane Galesburg
- Spring Lake Road Tazewell County
- Mendenhall Park
- West Jefferson Street 598, Havana
Track Old Five 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 Old Five Lake Dam
Where does the data for Old Five 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 Old Five Lake Dam.