Hidden Valley Lake Dam dam
Hidden Valley Lake Dam
Hidden Valley Lake Dam, located in Ogle, Illinois, is a privately-owned earth dam completed in 1968 for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 16 feet and a length of 505 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 256 acre-feet and serves as a popular spot for outdoor activities in the area. With a significant hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the dam is state-regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, ensuring regular inspections and enforcement measures are in place to maintain its integrity and safety.
Situated on the Tributary of Stillman Creek, Hidden Valley Lake Dam has an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 95 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 2116 cubic feet per second. Despite its buttress core type and unknown foundation, the dam has not been modified in recent years and lacks detailed condition assessment data. While the Emergency Action Plan was last revised in 2015 and meets guidelines, the risk management measures and inundation maps are not readily available. Overall, Hidden Valley Lake Dam offers a picturesque setting for recreation but requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential risks and ensure public safety in the event of emergencies.
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 Hidden Valley Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rock River At Byron | 8,230 cfs | → |
| Kishwaukee River Near Perryville | 736 cfs | → |
| South Branch Kishwaukee River Nr Fairdale Il | 163 cfs | → |
| Kishwaukee River At Belvidere | 341 cfs | → |
| South Branch Kishwaukee River At Dekalb | 35 cfs | → |
| Pecatonica River Nr Shirland | 1,810 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hidden Valley Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Market Street Byron
- Dixon Boat Launch
- Il 2 Grand Detour
- Cherry Valley Path Cherry Valley
- Lakeshore Drive 3630, Winnebago County
- Rock River Recreation Path Rockford
Campgrounds
- White Oak
- Shady Rest Camping Area
- Sun Valley
- Camping Islands
- Rivers Edge Campground
- Hononegah Forest Preserve Campground
Fishing spots
Track Hidden Valley 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 Hidden Valley Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hidden Valley 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 Significant 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 Hidden Valley Lake Dam.