Van Der Molen Dam dam
Van Der Molen Dam
Van Der Molen Dam, also known as Van Der Molen Detention Reservoir, is located in Addison, Illinois, along the Westwood Creek. This private dam, designed by Collins Engineers, was completed in 1984 with the primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Standing at a height of 8 feet and a length of 940 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 99 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 571 cubic feet per second. The spillway, which is uncontrolled, has a width of 50 feet, and the dam is classified as having a low hazard potential.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Van Der Molen Dam is subject to state regulations, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam is regularly inspected, with the last inspection conducted in August 2020, and it has a moderate risk assessment rating. Although the condition assessment is not currently available, the dam is maintained to meet safety standards and reduce the risk of flooding in the surrounding area. While there are no associated structures or federal agency involvement with the dam, its importance in mitigating flood risks in DuPage County, Illinois, cannot be understated for water resource and climate enthusiasts.
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 Van Der Molen Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Creek At Elmhurst | 60 cfs | → |
| E Br Du Page River Near Downers Grove | 18 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek Near Elk Grove Village | 645 cfs | → |
| Addison Creek At Bellwood | 4 cfs | → |
| St. Joseph Creek At U.S. Route 34 At Lisle | 0 cfs | → |
| W Branch Du Page River Nr West Chicago | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Van Der Molen Dam.
Boat launches
- East Higgins Road Elk Grove Township
- Fairbank Road Riverside
- Beck Lake Boat Launch
- Dupage River Trail Bolingbrook
- North River Lane Geneva
- River Bend Trail Kane County
Campgrounds
- Blackwell Youth Campground
- Camp Bullfrog Lake
- Camp Reinberg
- Pioneer Grove
- The Hollows Conservation Area Campground
Fishing spots
Track Van Der Molen 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 Van Der Molen Dam
Where does the data for Van Der Molen 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 Low 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 Van Der Molen Dam.