Cherry Valley Lower Dam dam
Cherry Valley Lower Dam
Cherry Valley Lower Dam, located in Winnebago, Illinois, serves a primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Madigan Creek. Built in 1993, this earth dam stands at a height of 12 feet and stretches 800 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 54 acre-feet. The dam is state-regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections, with a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 252 feet and is owned by the local government of Cherry Valley. Designed by Infratek Consultants, the Cherry Valley Lower Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area, with a drainage area of 5.4 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 3000 cubic feet per second. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is essential for mitigating flood risks and ensuring the safety of nearby communities.
Overall, Cherry Valley Lower Dam plays a vital role in the flood risk reduction efforts in Winnebago, Illinois. With its strategic location along the Madigan Creek and state-regulated operations, this earth dam contributes to the efficient management of water resources in the area. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's moderate risk assessment highlights the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its continued effectiveness in safeguarding the surrounding communities from potential flooding events.
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 Cherry Valley Lower Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kishwaukee River Near Perryville | 756 cfs | → |
| Kishwaukee River At Belvidere | 332 cfs | → |
| South Branch Kishwaukee River Nr Fairdale Il | 173 cfs | → |
| Rock River At Rockton | 7,470 cfs | → |
| Rock River At Byron | 8,510 cfs | → |
| Pecatonica River Nr Shirland | 1,880 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cherry Valley Lower Dam.
Boat launches
- Cherry Valley Path Cherry Valley
- Harlem Road Winnebago County
- Lakecrest Road Winnebago County
- Rock River Recreation Path Rockford
- Draft Machesney Park
- Freeport Road Rockton
Campgrounds
- Hononegah Forest Preserve Campground
- Rivers Edge Campground
- Sugar River Forest Preserve - Pine Tree
- Sugar River Forest Preserve - Riverfront
- White Oak
- Shady Rest Camping Area
Fishing spots
Track Cherry Valley Lower 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 Cherry Valley Lower Dam
Where does the data for Cherry Valley Lower 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 Cherry Valley Lower Dam.