Lasalle Co. Nuclear Station Cooling Lake Dam dam
Lasalle Co. Nuclear Station Cooling Lake Dam
The Lasalle Co. Nuclear Station Cooling Lake Dam, located in LaSalle County, Illinois, serves as a crucial component of the cooling system for the nuclear power station. Built in 1977, this private-owned dam stands at a height of 43 feet and stretches over 37,942 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 44,167 acre-feet. Situated along the Tributary of the Illinois River, this earth dam with buttress core types plays a significant role in water resource management in the region.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state agency to ensure its structural integrity and compliance with safety standards. With a high hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the dam is equipped with uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates to manage water discharge during emergencies. Although the dam's condition assessment is not available, regular inspections are conducted to monitor its operational status and readiness for potential risks.
As a vital infrastructure in the region, the Lasalle Co. Nuclear Station Cooling Lake Dam not only supports the operations of the nuclear power station but also plays a critical role in water storage, flood control, and environmental protection. With its strategic location and design features, this dam serves as a key asset in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in LaSalle County, Illinois.
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 Lasalle Co. Nuclear Station Cooling Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois River At Marseilles | 6,830 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Dayton | 1,720 cfs | → |
| Mazon River Near Coal City | 189 cfs | → |
| Vermilion River Near Leonore | 511 cfs | → |
| Kankakee River Near Wilmington | 3,160 cfs | → |
| Vermilion River At Pontiac | 166 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lasalle Co. Nuclear Station Cooling Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- S Main Street 2505, Seneca
- East 2425th Road Lasalle County
- Calumet Street Ottawa
- Courtney Street Ottawa
- William G. Stratton State Park
- Il 71 Lasalle County
Campgrounds
- Illini State Park Campground
- Illini State Park
- Tony's Cabin
- Starved Rock State Park
- Horseback Campground @ Matthiessen State Park
- Desplaines Conservational Park
Fishing spots
Track Lasalle Co. Nuclear Station Cooling 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 Lasalle Co. Nuclear Station Cooling Lake Dam
Where does the data for Lasalle Co. Nuclear Station Cooling 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 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 Lasalle Co. Nuclear Station Cooling Lake Dam.