Lake Summerset Dam dam
Lake Summerset Dam
Lake Summerset Dam, located in Winnebago, Illinois, is a privately-owned earth dam that was completed in 1969 for recreational purposes. The dam, standing at 44 feet tall and spanning 1794 feet in length, creates Lake Summerset on the South Branch Otter Creek. With a maximum storage capacity of 7312 acre-feet and a surface area of 301 acres, the dam serves as a popular destination for water enthusiasts in the area.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Lake Summerset Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam's spillway, with a width of 80 feet, is uncontrolled, and the hazard potential is rated as high. While the condition assessment is not available, the dam is subject to regular inspections to monitor its integrity. Despite the moderate risk assessment, the dam remains a vital part of the recreational ecosystem in the region.
Surrounded by the scenic beauty of Winnebago County, Lake Summerset Dam provides a tranquil retreat for residents and visitors alike. The dam's contribution to the local environment, combined with its recreational value, underscores the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions. As enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience, the preservation of Lake Summerset Dam serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness between human activities and the natural world.
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 Lake Summerset Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pecatonica River Nr Shirland | 1,650 cfs | → |
| Sugar River Near Brodhead | 400 cfs | → |
| Pecatonica River At Freeport | 904 cfs | → |
| Rock River At Rockton | 5,610 cfs | → |
| Rock River At Afton | 3,240 cfs | → |
| Pecatonica River At Martintown | 817 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Summerset Dam.
Boat launches
- Breckenboro Road 2226, Winnebago County
- Sugar River -- Access
- Yale Bridge Road Winnebago County
- Winnebago County
- State Highway 11 Town Of Spring Grove
- Lakeshore Drive 3630, Winnebago County
Track Lake Summerset 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 Lake Summerset Dam
Where does the data for Lake Summerset 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 Lake Summerset Dam.