Dupage Airport Lower Dam dam
Dupage Airport Lower Dam
Located in Lombard, Illinois, the Dupage Airport Lower Dam plays a vital role in flood risk reduction along the tributary of Kress Creek. Built in 1992 by CRAWFORD, MURPHY & TILLY, this earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet and spans 500 feet in length. With a maximum storage capacity of 90 acre-feet and a low hazard potential, the dam serves to protect the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the Dupage Airport Lower Dam is regularly inspected and maintained to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 10 feet to manage maximum discharges of up to 550 cubic feet per second. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam serves as a crucial component in the overall flood risk reduction strategy for DuPage County.
As a key infrastructure asset in DuPage County, the Dupage Airport Lower Dam provides a level of protection against potential flood events, contributing to the overall resilience of the community. With a focus on flood risk reduction, the dam is an essential component in the management of water resources and climate-related challenges in the region. The collaborative efforts between local government agencies and designers ensure that the dam remains operational and effective in safeguarding the surrounding area from the impacts of flooding.
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 Dupage Airport Lower Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | → |
| West Br Du Page River Near Warrenville | 61 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Batavia | 3 cfs | → |
| Ferson Creek Near St. Charles | 28 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dupage Airport Lower Dam.
Boat launches
- North River Lane Geneva
- Fox River Trail Geneva
- River Bend Trail Kane County
- Fox River Trail Aurora
- Fox River Trail Elgin
- Creekside Court Blackberry Township
Campgrounds
- Blackwell Youth Campground
- Camp Reinberg
- Camp Bullfrog Lake
- Pioneer Grove
- The Hollows Conservation Area Campground
Fishing spots
Track Dupage Airport Lower 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 Dupage Airport Lower Dam
Where does the data for Dupage Airport Lower 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 Dupage Airport Lower Dam.