Stark Farm Dam dam
Stark Farm Dam
Stark Farm Dam, also known as Stark Farm Detention Reservoir, is a privately owned earth dam located in DuPage County, Illinois. Completed in 1992 by Christopher B. Burke, Ltd., this dam serves as a critical infrastructure for flood risk reduction along Klein Creek. With a height of 10 feet and a length of 750 feet, the dam has a maximum storage capacity of 152 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 4 acre-feet.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Stark Farm Dam is designed with a buttress core type and an uncontrolled spillway type. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam has a moderate risk assessment level and is inspected every 5 years for safety and maintenance purposes. The dam has no outlet gates and has not been modified since its completion, demonstrating its reliability in mitigating flood risks for the surrounding area.
Stark Farm Dam plays a crucial role in protecting the city of Carol Stream and its residents from potential flooding events. With its strategic location along Klein Creek and its effective flood risk reduction measures, this dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management in Illinois. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the engineering and design that goes into maintaining the safety and functionality of this essential infrastructure.
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 Stark Farm Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| W Branch Du Page River Nr West Chicago | 23 cfs | → |
| Kress Creek At West Chicago | 4 cfs | → |
| Spring Bk At Forest Preserve Nr Warrenville | 12 cfs | → |
| E Br Du Page River Near Downers Grove | 28 cfs | → |
| West Br Du Page River Near Warrenville | 64 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek Near Elk Grove Village | 645 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Stark Farm Dam.
Boat launches
- East Higgins Road Elk Grove Township
- River Bend Trail Kane County
- North River Lane Geneva
- Fox River Trail Geneva
- Fox River Trail Elgin
- Fox River Trail East Dundee
Campgrounds
- Blackwell Youth Campground
- Camp Reinberg
- Camp Bullfrog Lake
- Pioneer Grove
- The Hollows Conservation Area Campground
Fishing spots
Track Stark Farm 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 Stark Farm Dam
Where does the data for Stark Farm 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 Stark Farm Dam.