Sunset Hills Lake Dam dam
Sunset Hills Lake Dam
Sunset Hills Lake Dam in Albers, Illinois, is a private recreational dam completed in 2007 by Netemeyer Engineering Associates. The dam stands at a height of 11 feet and spans 620 feet long, with a storage capacity of 81.7 acre-feet. With a surface area of 9 acres and a drainage area of 0.76 square miles, the dam serves as a picturesque spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Sunset Hills Lake Dam boasts a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment level. Although the dam does not have outlet gates, its uncontrolled spillway with a width of 90 feet ensures proper water discharge during heavy rainfall events. The dam is regularly inspected, with the last assessment conducted in December 2018, and has a designated emergency action plan in place to mitigate any potential risks. Despite its remote location in Clinton County, Illinois, the dam continues to be a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking a tranquil and scenic retreat in the heart of nature.
Overall, Sunset Hills Lake Dam offers a unique blend of recreational opportunities and environmental stewardship in the St. Louis District. With its sustainable design and strategic location along Trib Sugar Creek, the dam serves as a vital resource for water conservation and outdoor recreation in the region. Whether it's a leisurely day of fishing or a peaceful hike along the dam's perimeter, Sunset Hills Lake Dam provides a serene escape for individuals passionate about 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 Sunset Hills Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shoal Creek Near Breese | 1,400 cfs | → |
| Shoal Creek Nr Pierron | 1,470 cfs | → |
| Kaskaskia River Near Venedy Station | 8,160 cfs | → |
| Silver Creek Near Troy | 565 cfs | → |
| Kaskaskia River At Carlyle | 5,010 cfs | → |
| Little Crooked Creek Near New Minden | 725 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sunset Hills Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Highland Park Road Highland
- Hazlet State Park Boat Ramp
- St Ellen Mine Trail O'Fallon
- Schiber Court Maryville
- North 1st Street 2252, Fayetteville
- Tamalco Bond County
Track Sunset 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 Sunset Hills Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sunset 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 Sunset Hills Lake Dam.