Charlevoix Drive Dam dam
Charlevoix Drive Dam
Located in Will County, Illinois, the Charlevoix Drive Dam, also known as Charlevoix Lake Dam, was completed in 2008 by designer M. Gingerich Gereaux. This private-owned Earth dam stands at 7 feet tall and spans 950 feet along Forked Creek, serving primarily as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. With a storage capacity of 312 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 2165 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
The Charlevoix Drive Dam is regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in October 2016. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is considered to have moderate risk, warranting attention to risk management measures. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 62 feet, and it is situated in the city of Wilson Center along the beautiful landscape of Forked Creek. Water and climate enthusiasts would find this dam's design and purpose intriguing, as it contributes to the ecological balance and conservation efforts in the area.
With its unique design features, purposeful construction, and regulatory oversight, the Charlevoix Drive Dam stands as an important infrastructure for water management and wildlife preservation in the region. As a private-owned structure, its role in maintaining the health of Forked Creek and supporting diverse ecosystems highlights the intersection of human intervention and environmental stewardship. For those interested in the intersection of water resources and climate adaptation, the Charlevoix Drive Dam provides a captivating case study of sustainable infrastructure development and management practices in the state 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 Charlevoix Drive Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Butterfield Creek At Flossmoor | 4 cfs | → |
| Thorn Creek At Glenwood | 19 cfs | → |
| Deer Creek Near Chicago Heights | 6 cfs | → |
| Midlothian Creek At Oak Forest | 1 cfs | → |
| Hickory Creek At Joliet | 48 cfs | → |
| Thorn Creek At Thornton | 38 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Charlevoix Drive Dam.
Boat launches
- South Halsted Street Riverdale
- Channahon Road Joliet
- 107th Street Palos Township
- East 133rd Street Riverdale
- East 138th Street Riverdale
- Mcguire Parkway Lemont Township
Campgrounds
- Kankakee River State Park
- Camp Shabbona Woods
- Davis Creek Group Camp
- Pioneer Grove
- Camp Bullfrog Lake
- Des Plaines State Conservation Area
Fishing spots
Track Charlevoix Drive 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 Charlevoix Drive Dam
Where does the data for Charlevoix Drive 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 Charlevoix Drive Dam.