South Lake Of The Coves Dam dam
South Lake Of The Coves Dam
Located in Cook County, Illinois, the South Lake of The Coves Dam serves as a recreational spot for locals and visitors alike. Built in 1969 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 16 feet and spans 390 feet in length. With a primary purpose of recreation, the dam offers a storage capacity of 117 acre-feet, providing a serene environment for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the South Lake of The Coves Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state agencies to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's risk assessment is moderate, indicating a need for risk management measures to be put in place. While the condition assessment is currently not available, regular inspections are conducted every five years to monitor its integrity.
With a controlled spillway and no outlet gates, the dam presents a unique engineering design that reflects its purpose of providing a recreational water source. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the South Lake of The Coves Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices in preserving natural habitats and recreational opportunities for generations to come.
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 South Lake Of The Coves Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Poplar Creek At Elgin | 8 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek At Rolling Meadows | 12 cfs | → |
| Tyler Creek At Elgin | 16 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Algonquin (Tailwater) | 1,020 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Algonquin | 725 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek Near Elk Grove Village | 645 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Lake Of The Coves Dam.
Boat launches
- Airport Road 50, Elgin
- Fox River Trail East Dundee
- Washington Street Carpentersville
- Fox River Trail Carpentersville
- Fox River Trail Elgin
- East Higgins Road Elk Grove Township
Campgrounds
- Camp Reinberg
- The Hollows Conservation Area Campground
- Blackwell Youth Campground
- Fourth Lake Resort Campsite
- Mud Lake West
- Camp Lakota - A Boyscouts Of America Camp
Fishing spots
Track South Lake Of The Coves 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 South Lake Of The Coves Dam
Where does the data for South Lake Of The Coves 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 Low 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 South Lake Of The Coves Dam.