Grandwood Lake Dam dam
Grandwood Lake Dam
Grandwood Lake Dam, located in Grandwood Park, Illinois, serves as a crucial structure for recreation purposes along Mill Creek. Managed by the local government and regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, this earth dam with a buttress core stands as a significant feature in the area. Despite its unknown height and volume, the dam's primary purpose is to provide recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.
The dam's spillway, categorized as uncontrolled, adds to the high hazard potential associated with the structure. While the condition assessment is not available, the dam undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in July 2020. With a moderate risk assessment rating, efforts are likely in place to manage and mitigate potential risks associated with the dam. Overall, Grandwood Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study for water resource and climate enthusiasts, showcasing the intersection of infrastructure, regulation, and recreational land use in the region.
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 Grandwood Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mill Creek At Old Mill Creek | 21 cfs | → |
| Des Plaines River Near Gurnee | 119 cfs | → |
| Des Plaines River At Russell | 10 cfs | → |
| Skokie River At Lake Forest | 1 cfs | → |
| Nippersink Creek Near Spring Grove | 155 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek Near Wheeling | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Grandwood Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- North Lake Avenue 39, Third Lake
- North Sears Boulevard 33435, Grayslake
- West Wadsworth Road Lake County
- North Alleghany Road 116, Grayslake
- Blue Loop Lake County
- Des Plaines River Trail Libertyville
Campgrounds
- Fourth Lake Resort Campsite
- Mud Lake West
- Camp Reinberg
- The Hollows Conservation Area Campground
- North Branch Conservation Area (Cyclists Only)
- Rv Camping @ Big Foot Beach State Park
Fishing spots
Track Grandwood Lake 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 Grandwood Lake Dam
Where does the data for Grandwood Lake 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 Grandwood Lake Dam.