Busse Woods Reservoir South Dam dam
Busse Woods Reservoir South Dam
Busse Woods Reservoir South Dam, located in Cook County, Illinois, along Salt Creek, serves a crucial dual purpose of flood risk reduction and recreation. Constructed in 1977, this earth dam stands at 23 feet high and spans 1381 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 17,621 acre-feet and a surface area of 415 acres. The dam plays a significant role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events, with a maximum discharge capacity of 24,272 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the dam is subject to regular inspections and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and compliance with state regulations. With a high hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the dam's emergency action plan is a critical component in mitigating any potential risks to the surrounding community. Despite its utilitarian function, the reservoir provides opportunities for recreational activities, making it a valuable asset for both water resource management and climate enthusiasts in the region.
Overall, Busse Woods Reservoir South Dam stands as a testament to the importance of effective water resource management in mitigating flood risks and ensuring the safety of communities. Its strategic location along Salt Creek, combined with its dual-purpose design, highlights the intersection of infrastructure development and environmental conservation. As climate change continues to impact water resources, this dam serves as a vital component in the resilience and adaptation strategies for the region, making it a focal point of interest for those passionate about sustainable water management practices.
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 Busse Woods Reservoir South Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Creek Near Elk Grove Village | 645 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek At Rolling Meadows | 11 cfs | → |
| Weller Creek At Des Plaines | 1 cfs | → |
| Mc Donald Creek Near Mount Prospect | 1 cfs | → |
| Des Plaines River Near Des Plaines | 339 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek At Elmhurst | 92 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Busse Woods Reservoir South Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- East Higgins Road Elk Grove Township
- Beck Lake Boat Launch
- North Branch Red Paved Trail Northfield
- Fox River Trail East Dundee
- Airport Road 50, Elgin
- Fox River Trail Elgin
Track Busse Woods Reservoir South 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 Busse Woods Reservoir South Dam
Where does the data for Busse Woods Reservoir South 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 Busse Woods Reservoir South Dam.