Upper Salt Creek Structure 2 Dam dam
Upper Salt Creek Structure 2 Dam
The Upper Salt Creek Structure 2 Dam, also known as Plum Grove Reservoir, is a vital piece of infrastructure located in Palatine, Cook County, Illinois. Constructed in 1984 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, this earth dam stands at a height of 23 feet and spans a length of 2400 feet. With a primary purpose of flood risk reduction, the dam has a maximum storage capacity of 985 acre-feet and serves to protect the surrounding area from potential inundation during periods of heavy rainfall.
Managed by the local government, the Upper Salt Creek Structure 2 Dam is regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam's spillway, with a width of 214 feet, helps to control overflow during high flow events, with a maximum discharge capacity of 9582 cubic feet per second. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is rated as having a moderate risk level (3) and currently lacks detailed risk management measures. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience can appreciate the crucial role that this dam plays in protecting the community and managing flood risks in the region.
As a significant piece of infrastructure in the region, the Upper Salt Creek Structure 2 Dam serves as a key component in the overall flood risk reduction strategy for Palatine and its surrounding areas. With its earth dam construction and buttress core design, the dam has been designed to withstand the hydraulic pressures of the tributary Salt Creek. The dam's normal storage capacity of 40 acre-feet helps to regulate water levels and reduce the potential for downstream flooding, showcasing the importance of sustainable water management practices in mitigating climate-related risks. Climate enthusiasts and water resource professionals can find inspiration in the collaborative efforts between local government agencies and the Natural Resources Conservation Service in ensuring the safety and resilience of this essential infrastructure.
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 Upper Salt Creek Structure 2 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Creek At Rolling Meadows | 9 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek Near Elk Grove Village | 645 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek Near Wheeling | 6 cfs | → |
| Weller Creek At Des Plaines | 1 cfs | → |
| Mc Donald Creek Near Mount Prospect | 1 cfs | → |
| Des Plaines River Near Des Plaines | 313 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Salt Creek Structure 2 Dam.
Boat launches
- East Higgins Road Elk Grove Township
- Beck Lake Boat Launch
- Fox River Trail East Dundee
- Airport Road 50, Elgin
- Washington Street Carpentersville
- Picnic Grove Park
Campgrounds
- Camp Reinberg
- The Hollows Conservation Area Campground
- Blackwell Youth Campground
- Fourth Lake Resort Campsite
- Mud Lake West
- Camp Bullfrog Lake
Fishing spots
Track Upper Salt Creek Structure 2 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 Upper Salt Creek Structure 2 Dam
Where does the data for Upper Salt Creek Structure 2 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 Upper Salt Creek Structure 2 Dam.