Dresden Cooling Lake Dam, located in Morris, Illinois, is a privately owned Earth dam completed in 1971 by Sargent & Lundy Engineers.
Wind
Humidity
This dam serves a primary purpose of providing cooling water for the adjacent Dresden Nuclear Power Plant, with a storage capacity of 14,590 acre-feet and a surface area of 1,275 acres. The dam stands at a height of 25 feet and stretches 44,000 feet in length, with a controlled spillway width of 63 feet to manage water discharge.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Dresden Cooling Lake Dam is categorized as a high hazard structure due to its location on the Kankakee River and its proximity to residential and industrial areas downstream. Despite its high risk potential, the dam has not undergone a recent condition assessment, and its Emergency Action Plan was last revised in July 2018. With a very high risk rating and a lack of updated information on its risk management measures, the safety and maintenance of Dresden Cooling Lake Dam remain critical concerns for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the region.
Year Completed |
1971 |
Dam Length |
44000 |
Dam Height |
25 |
River Or Stream |
KANKAKEE RIVER-OFFSTREAM |
Primary Dam Type |
Earth |
Surface Area |
1275 |
Drainage Area |
2 |
Nid Storage |
14590 |
Outlet Gates |
Other Controlled |
Hazard Potential |
High |
Foundations |
Unlisted/Unknown |
Nid Height |
25 |
Kankakee River Near Wilmington
|
2240cfs |
Mazon River Near Coal City
|
4cfs |
Du Page River At Shorewood
|
196cfs |
Hickory Creek At Joliet
|
25cfs |
Blackberry Creek Near Yorkville
|
10cfs |
Long Run Near Lemont
|
2cfs |