Cornell Avenue Dam
Cornell Avenue Dam is an earth dam located in Cook County, Illinois, built in 1977. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Cornell Avenue Dam
The primary purpose of Cornell Avenue 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 Village Of Wheeling (private). It impounds the Mcdonald Creek near Wheeling.
The dam stands 9 feet tall and stretches 100 feet across. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/16/2025.
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 | Cook |
| Nearest City | Wheeling |
| River/Stream | Mcdonald Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.12024, -87.95145 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Length | 100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1977 (49 years old) |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | VILLAGE OF WHEELING |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 04/16/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL55079 |
| Federal ID | IL55079 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |