Forest Lake Dam dam
Forest Lake Dam
Forest Lake Dam, located in Hawthorne Woods, Illinois, was completed in 1935 for the primary purpose of recreation. The dam is classified as an Earth dam with a height of 11 feet and a length of 125 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 457 acre-feet. The dam is situated on a tributary of Indian Creek and is under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
With a high hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Forest Lake Dam is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure public safety. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 175 feet and a maximum discharge of 1684 cubic feet per second. Despite its age, the dam's condition assessment is not available, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate risks associated with its structural integrity.
In the event of an emergency, there are no outlet gates or Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared for Forest Lake Dam. While the dam provides recreational opportunities and serves as a vital water resource in the area, continued evaluation and risk management measures will be crucial to safeguard the surrounding community and the environment in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Forest Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Creek Near Wheeling | 6 cfs | → |
| Des Plaines River Near Gurnee | 99 cfs | → |
| Skokie River At Lake Forest | 7 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek At Rolling Meadows | 9 cfs | → |
| Mc Donald Creek Near Mount Prospect | 1 cfs | → |
| Wf Of Nb Chicago River At Northbrook Il | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Forest Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Canoe/Kayak Ramp Vernon Hills
- North Ash Street 27951, Lake County
- Des Plaines River Trail Mettawa
- Fox River Preserve Lake County
- Des Plaines River Trail Libertyville
- Picnic Grove Park
Campgrounds
- Camp Reinberg
- The Hollows Conservation Area Campground
- Fourth Lake Resort Campsite
- Mud Lake West
- North Branch Conservation Area (Cyclists Only)
- Camp Lakota - A Boyscouts Of America Camp
Fishing spots
Track Forest 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 Forest Lake Dam
Where does the data for Forest 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 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 Forest Lake Dam.