Techny Reservoir Dam dam
Techny Reservoir Dam
Techny Reservoir Dam, also known as Techney Reservoir, is a crucial structure located in Glenview, Illinois, along the West Fork North Branch Chicago River. Built in 1979 by Alfred Benesch & Co., this earth dam stands at a height of 11 feet and stretches 544 feet in length. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with a storage capacity of 350 acre-feet and a spillway width of 89 feet.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Techny Reservoir Dam plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding. The dam's hazard potential is categorized as significant, with a moderate risk assessment score of 3. While its condition assessment is currently unavailable, regular inspections are conducted, with the last one taking place in October 2015.
Despite its age, Techny Reservoir Dam continues to serve as a critical infrastructure for flood control in Cook County. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the engineering and operational aspects of this dam provides valuable insights into sustainable water management practices and the importance of maintaining and monitoring our infrastructure to mitigate potential risks associated with 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 Techny Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wf Of Nb Chicago River At Northbrook Il | 6 cfs | → |
| North Branch Chicago River At Deerfield | 5 cfs | → |
| Skokie River Near Highland Park | 2 cfs | → |
| Des Plaines River Near Des Plaines | 339 cfs | → |
| Mc Donald Creek Near Mount Prospect | 1 cfs | → |
| North Branch Chicago River At Niles | 31 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Techny Reservoir Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- North Branch Red Paved Trail Northfield
- Beck Lake Boat Launch
- Central Avenue Highland Park
- Lower South Beach Parking Area Lake Forest
- Des Plaines River Trail Mettawa
- East Higgins Road Elk Grove Township
⛺ Campgrounds
- Camp Reinberg
- Fourth Lake Resort Campsite
- The Hollows Conservation Area Campground
- Blackwell Youth Campground
- Camp Bullfrog Lake
- Pioneer Grove
🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →Track Techny Reservoir 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 Techny Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Techny Reservoir 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 Techny Reservoir Dam.