Fondulac Reservoir Dam
| Fondulac Reservoir Dam | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Fondulac Reservoir Dam |
| Location | East Peoria, Illinois |
| Purpose | Flood control |
| Construction began | 1948 |
| Opening date | 1949 |
| Operator(s) | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Farm Creek |
| Height (thalweg) | 67 feet |
| Length | 1,000 feet |
| Spillway type | culvert |
The Fondulac Reservoir Dam, or Fondulac Dam, is an earthen embankment constructed to prevent major floods in and around East Peoria, Illinois. It is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and is a levee dam, meant to stay dry during normal conditions and fills only during heavy rains. The area around it is protected to ensure safety, and serves as roughly 1,000 acres of wildland and wetlands that is used as wildlife habitat.[1]
Background
[edit]East Peoria and the Farm Creek area had experienced significant flooding throughout the 20th century, most notably the deadly 1927 Farm Creek Flood.[2] Following this disaster, dredging and channeling projects failed to permanently solve the issue, and floods continued into the 1940s. Recognizing the need for a permanent solution, the U.S. Federal Government authorized the Farm Creek Flood Control Project under the 1944 Flood Control Act.[3] The plan would produce two earthen dams, Fondulac (the smaller one) and its larger counterpart the Farmdale Reservoir Dam. The building of Fondulac Dam was funded largely through federal funds, along with private and local bonds.
Construction
[edit]Construction began on the embankment-style reservoir in 1948.[4] It would span 1,000 feet across the Farm Creek drainage and stand at 67 feet high.[4] It was built without gates and instead features a normally dry culvert, which is capable of pouring excess water through the dam. By 1949, construction was complete, and work transitioned to the larger Farmdale Reservoir Dam, as well as to additional dredging, spillway construction, and levee improvement.[5] The Army Corps of Engineers subsequently took over control of the Fondulac Dam following construction completion.[6]
Since construction
[edit]The dam has proven successful over countless rainy seasons, and times of heavy snowmelt.[7] Downtown East Peoria has escaped major floods since the completion of the dam.[8] Occasional rains cause the reservoir to fill temporarily and release the water after storing it, all without an active gate. Today, the dam not only serves as flood control measures, but also as a semi-protected habitat for wildlife.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Fondulac Dam Reservoir Report | Illinois Dams & Reservoirs". Snoflo Climate Research. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ Olar, Jared L. (2015-11-28). "The 'prehistory' of East Peoria". Pekin Public Library. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ "33 U.S. Code Chapter 15 - FLOOD CONTROL". LII / Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ a b "Farm Creek, Illinois". Rock Island District. Archived from the original on 2025-06-02. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ Lynn, Greg (2022-05-24). "Peoria Retro: 'The Most Tragic Night' of East Peoria's Existence". Peoria Magazine. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ "Army Corps Farm Creek Project Seeks Public Input". WCBU Peoria. 2017-06-28. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ "Snowmelt Runoff and the Water Cycle | U.S. Geological Survey". www.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ LUCIANO, PHIL. "Illinois River has inundated Peoria for years in a variety of ways". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ "Fondulac Park District". Illinois River Road. Retrieved 2025-07-14.