Midlothian Creek Dam dam
Midlothian Creek Dam
Midlothian Creek Dam, also known as Twin Lakes, is a local government-owned structure located in Oak Forest, Illinois. Completed in 1975, the dam has a primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Midlothian Creek. Standing at 22 feet high and with a length of 1515 feet, the earth dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Midlothian Creek Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state to ensure its safety and functionality. With a storage capacity of 1279 acre-feet, the dam not only serves as a flood control structure but also offers recreational opportunities in the area. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's risk assessment is rated as moderate, indicating the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to mitigate any potential risks.
The dam's uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 500 feet, allows for the safe release of excess water during peak flow events. Although the condition assessment is not available, the dam's emergency action plan was last revised in 1983. With its strategic location and vital role in flood risk reduction, the Midlothian Creek Dam stands as a critical infrastructure in safeguarding the community and the environment from the impacts of extreme weather events and water resource management.
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 Midlothian Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Midlothian Creek At Oak Forest | 2 cfs | → |
| Tinley Creek Near Palos Park | 4 cfs | → |
| Butterfield Creek At Flossmoor | 5 cfs | → |
| Thorn Creek At Thornton | 59 cfs | → |
| Little Calumet River At South Holland | 73 cfs | → |
| Thorn Creek At Glenwood | 29 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Midlothian Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- South Halsted Street Riverdale
- East 133rd Street Riverdale
- East 138th Street Riverdale
- Tri-State Tollway Justice
- 107th Street Palos Township
- South Brainard Avenue Burnham
Campgrounds
- Camp Shabbona Woods
- Pioneer Grove
- Camp Bullfrog Lake
- Blackwell Youth Campground
- Des Plaines State Conservation Area
- Kankakee River State Park
Fishing spots
Track Midlothian Creek 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 Midlothian Creek Dam
Where does the data for Midlothian Creek 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 Midlothian Creek Dam.