Rice Lake Dam
Rice Lake Dam is an earth dam located in DuPage County, Illinois, built in 1991. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Rice Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Rice Lake Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Forest Preserve District Of Dupage Count (private). It impounds the Willoway Brook near Valley View.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 1,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 39 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 660 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1991, the structure is 35 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/24/2025.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Illinois dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | DuPage |
| Nearest City | Valley View |
| River/Stream | Willoway Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.82338, -88.09936 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1991 (35 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 660 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 660 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 39 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 14,887 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF DUPAGE COUNT |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/24/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50219 |
| Federal ID | IL50219 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |