Clay City Side Channel Reservoir Dam dam
Clay City Side Channel Reservoir Dam
The Clay City Side Channel Reservoir Dam is a vital water supply infrastructure project located in Clay City, Illinois. This earth dam, completed in 1998 by Charleston Engineering, stands at a height of 11 feet and stretches 3500 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 170 acre-feet. The dam serves the primary purpose of providing water supply to the local community, with a normal storage level of 125 acre-feet and a surface area of 15 acres.
Situated along the tributary of the Little Wabash River, this dam is regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and undergoes state inspection, permitting, and enforcement processes. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam is subject to moderate risk assessment due to its location and function. The spillway, outlet gates, and other associated structures are designed for uncontrolled discharge, with a maximum discharge capacity of 5 cubic feet per second. The dam's condition assessment is currently not available, and it last underwent inspection in July 2010.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the strategic importance of the Clay City Side Channel Reservoir Dam in ensuring a reliable water supply for the local community. Its construction and management reflect a commitment to sustainable water resource management and infrastructure development in Illinois. The dam's design and operational features, along with its regulatory oversight and risk assessment, highlight the essential role it plays in enhancing water security and resilience in the face of changing climate conditions and increasing water demand.
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 Clay City Side Channel Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Wabash River Below Clay City | 172 cfs | → |
| Embarras River At Ste. Marie | 665 cfs | → |
| Skillet Fork At Wayne City | 27 cfs | → |
| Bonpas Creek At Browns | 5 cfs | → |
| North Fork Embarras River Near Oblong | 28 cfs | → |
| Little Wabash River Near Effingham | 35 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Clay City Side Channel Reservoir Dam.
Track Clay City Side Channel Reservoir 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 Clay City Side Channel Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Clay City Side Channel Reservoir 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 Clay City Side Channel Reservoir Dam.