Lower Batavia Dam dam
Lower Batavia Dam
The Lower Batavia Dam, located on the Fox River in North Aurora, Illinois, is a concrete buttress dam primarily used for recreation. Constructed in 1916, the dam stands at a height of 5 feet and spans 308 feet in length. While its normal storage capacity is listed as 0, the dam serves as a popular spot for recreational activities along the river.
Owned and regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the Lower Batavia Dam is inspected regularly to ensure public safety. With a significant hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the dam is monitored closely to prevent any potential threats to the surrounding area. The dam's condition assessment is currently listed as not available, but emergency action plans and risk management measures are in place to address any unforeseen events.
Although the Lower Batavia Dam is not under the jurisdiction of any federal agency, its importance as a recreational structure on the Fox River cannot be understated. With its historical significance dating back over a century, the dam continues to attract water resource and climate enthusiasts who appreciate its role in providing leisure activities in the Kane County area of Illinois.
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 Lower Batavia Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mill Creek Near Batavia | 9 cfs | → |
| Kress Creek At West Chicago | 4 cfs | → |
| Spring Bk At Forest Preserve Nr Warrenville | 12 cfs | → |
| Ferson Creek Near St. Charles | 29 cfs | → |
| West Br Du Page River Near Warrenville | 64 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Montgomery | 1,190 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Batavia Dam.
Boat launches
- Fox River Trail Geneva
- North River Lane Geneva
- Fox River Trail Aurora
- Creekside Court Blackberry Township
- River Bend Trail Kane County
- Sundown Lane 7277, Kendall County
Campgrounds
- Blackwell Youth Campground
- Camp Bullfrog Lake
- Pioneer Grove
- Camp Reinberg
- The Hollows Conservation Area Campground
Fishing spots
Track Lower Batavia 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 Lower Batavia Dam
Where does the data for Lower Batavia 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 Significant 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 Lower Batavia Dam.