Renee Drive Detention Dam dam
Renee Drive Detention Dam
Renee Drive Detention Dam, located in South Elgin, Illinois, was designed by Baxter & Woodman to serve as a crucial element in flood risk reduction along the TRIB FOX RIVER. Completed in 2011, this private-owned Earth dam stands at 7 feet high and spans 200 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 12 acre-feet. Despite its modest size, the dam has a high hazard potential due to its location and purpose, making it an essential structure for protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
The dam's uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 15 feet, helps regulate water flow and reduce the risk of overtopping during heavy rain events. Its inspection frequency is set at once per year, with the last inspection conducted in October 2019. While the condition assessment is currently marked as "Not Available," the risk assessment rates the dam's risk level as moderate (3). With state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place, the Renee Drive Detention Dam plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and resilience of the community against flood threats in Kane County, Illinois.
As a notable feature in flood control infrastructure, Renee Drive Detention Dam not only serves its primary purpose of flood risk reduction but also contributes to the overall water resource management in the region. With its strategic location, design, and operational capabilities, the dam stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts between private ownership, government regulations, and engineering expertise in safeguarding communities and ecosystems against the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events.
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 Renee Drive Detention Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fox River At South Elgin | 1,040 cfs | → |
| Poplar Creek At Elgin | 6 cfs | → |
| Tyler Creek At Elgin | 18 cfs | → |
| Ferson Creek Near St. Charles | 29 cfs | → |
| W Branch Du Page River Nr West Chicago | 25 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Batavia | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Renee Drive Detention Dam.
Boat launches
- River Bend Trail Kane County
- Fox River Trail Elgin
- Fox River Trail East Dundee
- Airport Road 50, Elgin
- North River Lane Geneva
- Washington Street Carpentersville
Campgrounds
- Blackwell Youth Campground
- Camp Reinberg
- The Hollows Conservation Area Campground
- Camp Lakota - A Boyscouts Of America Camp
- Camp Bullfrog Lake
- Pioneer Grove
Fishing spots
Track Renee Drive Detention 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 Renee Drive Detention Dam
Where does the data for Renee Drive Detention 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 Renee Drive Detention Dam.