Hickory Hills Lake Dam dam
Hickory Hills Lake Dam
Located in Sangamon, Illinois, the Hickory Hills Lake Dam is a private earth dam that was completed in 1995 and primarily serves the purpose of recreation. With a height of 29 feet and a length of 475 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 278 acre-feet, providing ample water resources for the surrounding area. The dam overlooks the TRIB SANGAMON RIVER and has a low hazard potential, making it a relatively safe structure.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the Hickory Hills Lake Dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. Despite its age, the dam remains in good condition with a moderate risk assessment rating. The spillway of the dam is uncontrolled and has a width of 36 feet, ensuring proper water discharge during periods of high flow. Overall, the Hickory Hills Lake Dam is a vital resource for both water storage and recreational activities in the area, contributing to the sustainable management of water resources and climate resilience.
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 Hickory Hills Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Creek At Springfield | 176 cfs | → |
| Sangamon River At Riverton | 1,760 cfs | → |
| South Fork Sangamon River Nr Rochester | 742 cfs | → |
| Sangamon River At Petersburg | 2,120 cfs | → |
| Lake Fork Near Cornland | 152 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek Near Greenview | 987 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hickory Hills Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- East Lake Shore Drive 182, Springfield
- Island Bay Lane Springfield
- Gridley Road Cass County
- Christian County
- County Highway 11 Cass County
- Gurney Road Cass County
Track Hickory Hills 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 Hickory Hills Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hickory Hills 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 Hickory Hills Lake Dam.