Chicago River And Harbor Controlling Works dam
Chicago River And Harbor Controlling Works
The Chicago River and Harbor Controlling Works, also known as the Chicago Lock, is a critical piece of infrastructure designed to reduce flood damages in downtown Chicago and maintain navigation between Lake Michigan and the Chicago Area Waterway System. A risk assessment conducted in 2016 highlighted potential failure modes affecting the lock gates and the lock structure's condition, which could lead to a disruption of navigation and potential flooding in the city. The lock supports limited commercial tonnage but sees a high number of recreational and non-cargo commercial vessels passing through, with over 700,000 passengers transiting annually.
To manage these risks, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) staff continuously operate and maintain the Chicago Lock, conducting regular inspections and collaborating with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) to minimize flooding. Recent maintenance activities, such as gate replacements in 2011 and a new control building in 2007, have been implemented to improve the lock's reliability. The project also has an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) coordinated with MWRD, the City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communication, and the State of Illinois, ensuring a coordinated response to high river conditions and potential emergencies. The Chicago River and Harbor Controlling Works play a vital role in both flood risk reduction and navigation in the region, safeguarding the city and its water resources.
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 Chicago River And Harbor Controlling Works -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nb Chicago River At Albany Avenue At Chicago | 355 cfs | → |
| Des Plaines River At Riverside | 306 cfs | → |
| North Branch Chicago River At Niles | 39 cfs | → |
| Addison Creek At Bellwood | 6 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek At Western Springs | 113 cfs | → |
| Indiana Harbor Canal At East Chicago | 1,260 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chicago River And Harbor Controlling Works.
Boat launches
- North Rockwell Street 3400, North Center
- South Dusable Lake Shore Drive 6400, Chicago
- Fairbank Road Riverside
- Tri-State Tollway Justice
- Whihala Beach Boat Ramp
- South State Line Road Hegewisch
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Chicago River And Harbor Controlling Works 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 Chicago River And Harbor Controlling Works
Where does the data for Chicago River And Harbor Controlling Works 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 Chicago River And Harbor Controlling Works.