Lake Louise Dam dam
Lake Louise Dam
Lake Louise Dam, located in Cumberland County, Illinois, is a private recreational structure that was completed in 1944. Standing at a height of 23 feet and with a length of 500 feet, the dam serves the primary purpose of recreation and boasts a storage capacity of 141 acre-feet. Situated on Bear Creek, the dam is regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and is inspected regularly to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite being classified as low hazard potential, Lake Louise Dam has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway type and outlet gates, with a spillway width of 49 feet. While the condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Available," the dam is subject to regular inspections every five years. With its scenic location and historical significance, Lake Louise Dam serves as a vital water resource for the community while also offering recreational opportunities for visitors to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area.
Overall, Lake Louise Dam stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and outdoor recreation. With its earth dam structure and moderate risk assessment, the dam provides a balance between functionality and safety. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the importance of maintaining and monitoring structures like Lake Louise Dam becomes increasingly vital in ensuring the sustainability and safety of our water supply systems.
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 Louise Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Whitley Creek Near Allenville | 56 cfs | → |
| Kaskaskia River At Cooks Mills | 1,840 cfs | → |
| Little Wabash River Near Effingham | 224 cfs | → |
| North Fork Embarras River Near Oblong | 322 cfs | → |
| Kaskaskia River At Shelbyville | 1,230 cfs | → |
| Kaskaskia River At Chesterville | 436 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Louise Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Road Montrose
- Lake Charleston Loop 1744, Charleston
- Old Nelson Boat Ramp
- Moultrie County
- Wolf Creek Boat Launch
Track Lake Louise 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 Louise Dam
Where does the data for Lake Louise 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 Lake Louise Dam.