Sylvan Lake Dam dam
Sylvan Lake Dam
Sylvan Lake Dam, located in Long Grove, Illinois, was completed in 1920 and serves as a private recreational area for water enthusiasts. This earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet and has a length of 120 feet, providing storage of up to 207 acre-feet of water. The dam overlooks the scenic Trib Indian Creek and offers opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water-based activities.
Managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Sylvan Lake Dam is considered to have a significant hazard potential and undergoes inspections every three years to ensure its safety. While the dam has an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 4 feet, it does not feature any outlet gates. Despite its age, the dam's condition assessment is listed as "Not Available," highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate any potential risks associated with its operation.
With its historical significance and importance for local recreation, Sylvan Lake Dam represents a key feature in the water resource landscape of Lake County, Illinois. As climate change impacts continue to affect water availability and quality, maintaining the integrity of dams like Sylvan Lake becomes crucial for ensuring sustainable water management practices in the region. Enthusiasts and stakeholders alike can appreciate the beauty and functionality of this dam while also recognizing the need for ongoing stewardship to protect both the environment and the communities that rely on its benefits.
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 Sylvan Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Creek Near Wheeling | 6 cfs | → |
| Des Plaines River Near Gurnee | 119 cfs | → |
| Skokie River At Lake Forest | 1 cfs | → |
| Mc Donald Creek Near Mount Prospect | 1 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek At Old Mill Creek | 21 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek At Rolling Meadows | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sylvan Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Canoe/Kayak Ramp Vernon Hills
- North Ash Street 27951, Lake County
- Des Plaines River Trail Mettawa
- Des Plaines River Trail Libertyville
- North Alleghany Road 116, Grayslake
- Fox River Preserve Lake County
Campgrounds
- Camp Reinberg
- Fourth Lake Resort Campsite
- The Hollows Conservation Area Campground
- Mud Lake West
- North Branch Conservation Area (Cyclists Only)
- Camp Lakota - A Boyscouts Of America Camp
Fishing spots
Track Sylvan 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 Sylvan Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sylvan 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 Significant 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 Sylvan Lake Dam.