Geneva Dam dam
Geneva Dam
Located on the Fox River in Geneva, Illinois, the Geneva Dam stands as a testament to early 20th-century engineering, completed in 1910 for the primary purpose of recreation. With a height of 13 feet and a length of 443 feet, this gravity dam provides a storage capacity of 1100 acre-feet, with a maximum discharge controlled by an uncontrolled spillway that is 441 feet wide. The dam is owned and regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, ensuring compliance with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement protocols.
Despite its low hazard potential, the Geneva Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources along the Fox River, providing recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike. The dam's historical significance and architectural design make it a notable landmark in Kane County, Illinois. While the dam's condition assessment is currently unavailable, regular inspections ensure its structural integrity and adherence to safety standards.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure nationwide, the Geneva Dam remains a vital component of the Fox River watershed. With a moderate risk assessment score of 3, the dam's risk management measures are essential for mitigating potential hazards and ensuring the safety of surrounding communities. As enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience, understanding the role of dams like Geneva Dam is crucial for sustainable water management in the face of a changing climate.
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 Geneva Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ferson Creek Near St. Charles | 28 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Batavia | 3 cfs | → |
| Kress Creek At West Chicago | 6 cfs | → |
| W Branch Du Page River Nr West Chicago | 21 cfs | → |
| Spring Bk At Forest Preserve Nr Warrenville | 12 cfs | → |
| Fox River At South Elgin | 1,090 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Geneva Dam.
Boat launches
- North River Lane Geneva
- Fox River Trail Geneva
- River Bend Trail Kane County
- Fox River Trail Aurora
- Creekside Court Blackberry Township
- Fox River Trail Elgin
Campgrounds
- Blackwell Youth Campground
- Camp Reinberg
- The Hollows Conservation Area Campground
- Camp Bullfrog Lake
- Pioneer Grove
Fishing spots
Track Geneva 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 Geneva Dam
Where does the data for Geneva 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 Geneva Dam.