Bethany Road Detention Pond Dam dam
Bethany Road Detention Pond Dam
Located in Sycamore, Illinois, the Bethany Road Detention Pond Dam stands as a crucial structure designed by John Brady, City Engineer, to mitigate flood risks in the area. With a height of 11 feet and a length of 3105 feet, this earth dam plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding community from potential water-related disasters. The dam is under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its effectiveness and safety.
Serving as a primary flood risk reduction measure, the Bethany Road Detention Pond Dam has a storage capacity of 260 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.84 square miles. The dam's spillway, with a width of 200 feet, facilitates controlled water release during heavy rainfall events, preventing overflow and reducing the risk of downstream flooding. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is regularly inspected to assess its condition and ensure that it meets safety standards.
As climate change continues to impact weather patterns and increase the frequency of extreme weather events, structures like the Bethany Road Detention Pond Dam play a crucial role in safeguarding communities from the devastating effects of floods. With its strategic location and effective design, this dam stands as a testament to proactive water resource management and the importance of infrastructure in adapting to a changing climate.
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 Bethany Road Detention Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Branch Kishwaukee River At Dekalb | 39 cfs | → |
| South Branch Kishwaukee River Nr Fairdale Il | 173 cfs | → |
| Ferson Creek Near St. Charles | 28 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Batavia | 5 cfs | → |
| Fox River At South Elgin | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Tyler Creek At Elgin | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bethany Road Detention Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Creekside Court Blackberry Township
- Tomahawk Trail Dekalb County
- River Bend Trail Kane County
- North River Lane Geneva
- Fox River Trail Geneva
- Fox River Trail Elgin
Campgrounds
- Blackwell Youth Campground
- Camp Lakota - A Boyscouts Of America Camp
- The Hollows Conservation Area Campground
Fishing spots
Track Bethany Road Detention Pond 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 Bethany Road Detention Pond Dam
Where does the data for Bethany Road Detention Pond 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 High 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 Bethany Road Detention Pond Dam.