Lake Law Dam dam
Lake Law Dam
Lake Law Dam, located in DuPage County, Illinois, is a critical infrastructure designed by the U.S. Air Force in 1971 for flood risk reduction along Ferry Creek. This earth dam stands at 20 feet high and spans 500 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 1500 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with a controlled spillway and slide gates for water flow management.
Managed by federal authorities, Lake Law Dam is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Despite the significant hazard potential associated with the dam, its condition assessment is currently not available. The dam is located within the jurisdiction of WARRENSVILLE, Illinois, and is closely monitored for any potential risks, with a risk assessment rating of 'Very High (1)'.
This key water resource infrastructure plays a vital role in safeguarding the surrounding area from flooding events, highlighting the importance of ongoing maintenance and risk management measures. Lake Law Dam serves as a prime example of collaborative efforts between federal and state agencies to ensure the safety and resilience of communities in DuPage County, Illinois, against the impacts of climate change and water resource challenges.
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 Lake Law Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kress Creek At West Chicago | 3 cfs | → |
| Spring Bk At Forest Preserve Nr Warrenville | 12 cfs | → |
| West Br Du Page River Near Warrenville | 103 cfs | → |
| W Branch Du Page River Nr West Chicago | 43 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Batavia | 15 cfs | → |
| St. Joseph Creek At U.S. Route 34 At Lisle | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Law Dam.
Boat launches
- Fox River Trail Geneva
- North River Lane Geneva
- Fox River Trail Aurora
- River Bend Trail Kane County
- Dupage River Trail Bolingbrook
- Dupage River Trail Naperville
Campgrounds
- Blackwell Youth Campground
- Camp Bullfrog Lake
- Pioneer Grove
- Camp Reinberg
- The Hollows Conservation Area Campground
Fishing spots
Track Lake Law 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 Lake Law Dam
Where does the data for Lake Law 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 Lake Law Dam.