High Hill Farms Dam dam
High Hill Farms Dam
High Hill Farms Dam, located in Algonquin, Illinois, was completed in 1977 by MACKIE CONSULTANTS and serves as a critical flood risk reduction infrastructure on the Rat Creek. The dam is of Earth type with a height of 23 feet and a length of 575 feet, providing a storage capacity of 76 acre-feet. With a maximum discharge capacity of 600 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing floodwaters and protecting the surrounding areas from potential inundation.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, High Hill Farms Dam has a high hazard potential due to its proximity to residential and commercial areas. Despite the lack of available condition assessment data, the dam's emergency action plan was last revised in 1994, indicating the need for updated risk management measures and guidelines. The dam's moderate risk assessment highlights the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and effectiveness in flood control.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and weather patterns, the significance of High Hill Farms Dam in mitigating flood risks and protecting communities in McHenry County, Illinois, becomes increasingly evident. With its strategic location and design features, the dam stands as a vital asset in the region's resilience against extreme weather events and underscores the critical role of infrastructure in adapting to 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 High Hill Farms Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fox River At Algonquin (Tailwater) | 759 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Algonquin | 725 cfs | → |
| Tyler Creek At Elgin | 13 cfs | → |
| Poplar Creek At Elgin | 5 cfs | → |
| Boone Creek Near Mc Henry | 6 cfs | → |
| Fox River At South Elgin | 924 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near High Hill Farms Dam.
Boat launches
- Hilltop Drive 145, Lake In The Hills
- Fox River Trail Carpentersville
- Washington Street Carpentersville
- Lake Atwood Boat Launch
- Leonard Parkway 619, Crystal Lake
- Picnic Grove Park
Campgrounds
- The Hollows Conservation Area Campground
- Camp Reinberg
- Camp Lakota - A Boyscouts Of America Camp
- Mud Lake West
- Fourth Lake Resort Campsite
- North Branch Conservation Area (Cyclists Only)
Fishing spots
Track High Hill Farms 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 High Hill Farms Dam
Where does the data for High Hill Farms 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 High Hill Farms Dam.