Rice Lake Dam dam
Rice Lake Dam
Rice Lake Dam, located in DuPage, Illinois, is a privately owned structure designed by Patrick Engineering and completed in 1991. This earth dam, standing at a height of 13 feet and stretching 1300 feet in length, serves primarily for flood risk reduction along the Willoway Brook. The dam has a maximum storage capacity of 660 acre-feet and a surface area of 39 acres, with a high hazard potential due to its location and purpose.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Rice Lake Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state agency to ensure its safety and functionality. While the dam primarily serves flood risk reduction, it also offers recreational opportunities for the community. The spillway, with a width of 214 feet, is uncontrolled, allowing for the release of water during periods of high discharge. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam's condition assessment and emergency action plan status are currently unavailable, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and management to mitigate potential risks.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Rice Lake Dam presents a fascinating intersection of engineering, environmental management, and public safety. With its strategic location in Valley View, Illinois, and its critical role in flood risk reduction, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water infrastructure. As climate change continues to impact precipitation patterns and water resources, the management and maintenance of structures like Rice Lake Dam become increasingly vital to safeguard communities and ecosystems from the threats of flooding and other water-related hazards.
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 Rice Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph Creek At U.S. Route 34 At Lisle | 1 cfs | → |
| E Br Du Page River Near Downers Grove | 36 cfs | → |
| West Br Du Page River Near Warrenville | 65 cfs | → |
| Spring Bk At Forest Preserve Nr Warrenville | 12 cfs | → |
| Kress Creek At West Chicago | 15 cfs | → |
| West Branch Du Page River Near Naperville | 55 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rice Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Dupage River Trail Bolingbrook
- Dupage River Trail Naperville
- Fox River Trail Geneva
- Fox River Trail Aurora
- North River Lane Geneva
- Mcguire Parkway Lemont Township
Campgrounds
- Blackwell Youth Campground
- Camp Bullfrog Lake
- Pioneer Grove
- Camp Reinberg
- The Hollows Conservation Area Campground
Fishing spots
Track Rice 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 Rice Lake Dam
Where does the data for Rice 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 Rice Lake Dam.