Lockport Lock And Controlling Works dam
Lockport Lock And Controlling Works
Lockport Lock and Controlling Works, located in Joliet, Illinois, is a crucial facility for maintaining navigation in the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal. Completed in 1933, this Federal-owned structure serves multiple purposes, including flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, and navigation. With a high hazard potential, the facility's dam and controlling works play a vital role in managing water levels during intense rain events to prevent flooding in the Chicago metropolitan area.
To mitigate risks, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has implemented various measures, including continuous on-site staff presence, rapid communication with neighboring locks and dams, and close coordination with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD). A major rehabilitation project was completed between 2008 and 2015 to enhance the facility's infrastructure, including the construction of a concrete cutoff wall and reinforcement of the canal wall. With an Emergency Action Plan in place and ongoing monitoring, efforts are focused on ensuring the safe operation and maintenance of Lockport Lock and Controlling Works to prevent potential economic losses and life-threatening situations in case of a dam failure.
Overall, Lockport Lock and Controlling Works serve as a critical component in the water resource management of the Chicago area. Through effective risk management measures, collaboration between agencies, and ongoing maintenance efforts, the facility plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the surrounding communities from the impacts of potential dam failures and ensuring the efficient operation of navigation services and flood risk reduction in the region.
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 Lockport Lock And Controlling Works -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hickory Creek At Joliet | 50 cfs | → |
| Long Run Near Lemont | 8 cfs | → |
| Du Page River At Shorewood | 288 cfs | → |
| East Branch Du Page River At Bolingbrook | 93 cfs | → |
| West Branch Du Page River Near Naperville | 51 cfs | → |
| Sawmill Creek Near Lemont | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lockport Lock And Controlling Works.
Boat launches
- Channahon Road Joliet
- Dupage River Trail Naperville
- West Shepley Road Channahon
- Mcguire Parkway Lemont Township
- Dupage River Trail Bolingbrook
- 107th Street Palos Township
Campgrounds
- Camp Bullfrog Lake
- Pioneer Grove
- Des Plaines State Conservation Area
- Desplaines Conservational Park
- Blackwell Youth Campground
- Kankakee River State Park
Fishing spots
Track Lockport Lock And 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 Lockport Lock And Controlling Works
Where does the data for Lockport Lock And 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 Lockport Lock And Controlling Works.