Batavia Dam dam
Batavia Dam
Batavia Dam, located on the Fox River in Batavia, Illinois, was completed in 1916 and serves a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. The dam is owned by the local government and regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. With a height of 6 feet and a length of 300 feet, Batavia Dam holds a storage capacity of 169 acre-feet, making it a crucial structure for managing water levels and mitigating flood risks in the area.
The dam's hazard potential is classified as significant, highlighting the importance of regular inspections and maintenance. The last inspection took place in October 2017, with a frequency of every three years. While the condition assessment is currently unavailable, the risk assessment for Batavia Dam is moderate, indicating a need for ongoing risk management measures to ensure its continued effectiveness in flood risk reduction. The spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 300 feet, providing an essential means for managing water flow during periods of high discharge.
Overall, Batavia Dam plays a critical role in protecting the surrounding communities from flooding along the Fox River. As a key component of water resource and climate management in Kane County, Illinois, the dam requires careful monitoring and maintenance to uphold its function in safeguarding the area against potential flood risks. Despite its age, Batavia Dam remains a vital infrastructure for flood control and water management in the region, underscoring the importance of ongoing investment and attention to ensure its continued reliability and effectiveness.
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 Batavia Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mill Creek Near Batavia | 4 cfs | → |
| Kress Creek At West Chicago | 2 cfs | → |
| Ferson Creek Near St. Charles | 28 cfs | → |
| Spring Bk At Forest Preserve Nr Warrenville | 12 cfs | → |
| West Br Du Page River Near Warrenville | 52 cfs | → |
| W Branch Du Page River Nr West Chicago | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Batavia Dam.
Boat launches
- Fox River Trail Geneva
- North River Lane Geneva
- Fox River Trail Aurora
- River Bend Trail Kane County
- Creekside Court Blackberry Township
- Fox River Trail Elgin
Campgrounds
- Blackwell Youth Campground
- Camp Bullfrog Lake
- Camp Reinberg
- Pioneer Grove
- The Hollows Conservation Area Campground
Fishing spots
Track Batavia 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 Batavia Dam
Where does the data for Batavia 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 Batavia Dam.