2 Occurrences 3 Occurrences 11 Occurrences 22 Occurrences 
Eldred and Spankey Levee System Location
City, County, and State of the levee system. Determined by the levee alignment location not the leveed area.
Eldred, Greene County, Illinois
System ID
Unique identifier code for the levee system using 10 or 12 numbers in length.
5605140001
Operation and Maintenance Organization
Entity responsible for day-to-day management of the levee.
Spankey Drainage & Levee DistrictEldred Drainage & Levee District
Floodplain Management
Entities responsible for regulating activities that occur in areas prone to flooding.
FEMA Region 5
Oversight Organization
Entity responsible for oversight of the levee and ensuring it is maintained.
USACE - St Louis District
Last Assesment Date Last Risk Assessment or Formal Inspection.
10/11/2023
Data Last Updated Date any of this information for the system has been updated.
4/9/2025
Levee Length
Combine length of all the levee system features including the embankments, floodwalls, closures where they exist for this system.
21.244 Miles Average Levee Height
The average height of the levee system. The levee profile viewer on the mapping window will show the actual levee height values for the length of the levee if available.
14 Feet Year Levee Constructed Year levee system was fully completed as a flood reduction project.
1945 Summary
General text description of the levee system with a summary of why the levee is there, and the benefits it provides.
The Eldred Drainage and Levee District Levee System reduces the risk of flooding from the Illinois River to agricultural properties in Greene County, IL. Located just west of Eldred, Illinois, the system is federally authorized and constructed and locally operated and maintained by the nonfederal Sponsor, Eldred Drainage and Levee District. The levee system was improved in the 1930s and consists of 17.6 miles of earthen embankment along the Illinois River, Cole Creek, McCoupin Creek, and Old Munday Slough. Within the nearly 9,500-acre leveed area are agricultural bottomland along with isolated farmsteads and one natural gas line. No towns or villages are located within the leveed area. This system provides benefits to about a dozen residents and over $750 thousand in property. In 2016, it is estimated that the levee system prevented nearly $1 million in damages.
Performance & Condition
General text description of the historical and anticipated performance of the levee, the people and property benefitting from the levee and who may be at risk of flooding, and actions to address areas of concern.
The Eldred Drainage and Levee District Levee System has prevented Greene County properties from flooding during numerous major flood events, though concerns with its condition have been observed. During the past high water events, the system has experienced uncontrolled seepage and erosion of the embankments along Cole Creek, Hurricane Creek and the Illinois River. The levee overtopped in 1943 and 1993 flood events. There is a possibility that in any given year floodwaters could overtop or breach the levee system. A levee failure could result in flooding of depths of up to 22 feet loss of property and productive agricultural land, and potential loss of life, if residents and employees are not evacuated.
Flooding Hazard
Historic Loading by Percentage of Height
Representative loading associated with historical flood information as a percentage of the levee height or overtopping.
Representative loading associated with historical flood information as a percentage of the levee height or overtopping.
2 Occurrences 3 Occurrences 11 Occurrences 22 Occurrences