Orchard Lake Galena Boulevard Dam dam
Orchard Lake Galena Boulevard Dam
The Orchard Lake Galena Boulevard Dam in Aurora, Illinois, is a privately owned structure designed by Roake & Associates and regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. This earth dam, with a height of 11 feet and a length of 250 feet, serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction on the tributary of Blackberry Creek. The dam has a maximum storage capacity of 157 acre-feet and a surface area of 12.9 acres, with a spillway width of 255 feet and a maximum discharge of 415 cubic feet per second.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam is subject to regular inspections every five years, with the last inspection conducted in October 2019. The risk assessment for the Orchard Lake Galena Boulevard Dam is moderate, indicating a level 3 risk. While the condition assessment is not available, the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan prepared, and its risk management measures remain unspecified. Climate and water resource enthusiasts may find interest in monitoring the ongoing maintenance and management of this dam to ensure its continued effectiveness in flood risk reduction while minimizing potential risks to surrounding areas.
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 Orchard Lake Galena Boulevard Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackberry Creek Near Montgomery | 34 cfs | → |
| Fox River At Montgomery | 1,190 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Batavia | 9 cfs | → |
| Blackberry Creek Near Yorkville | 40 cfs | → |
| Kress Creek At West Chicago | 4 cfs | → |
| Spring Bk At Forest Preserve Nr Warrenville | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Orchard Lake Galena Boulevard Dam.
Boat launches
- Fox River Trail Aurora
- Sundown Lane 7277, Kendall County
- Creekside Court Blackberry Township
- Fox River Trail Geneva
- North River Lane Geneva
- Dupage River Trail Naperville
Campgrounds
- Blackwell Youth Campground
- Camp Bullfrog Lake
- Pioneer Grove
- Des Plaines State Conservation Area
- Camp Reinberg
Fishing spots
Track Orchard Lake Galena Boulevard 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 Orchard Lake Galena Boulevard Dam
Where does the data for Orchard Lake Galena Boulevard 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 Orchard Lake Galena Boulevard Dam.