St. Charles Dam is a gravity dam located in Kane County, Illinois, built in 1918. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 7 ft7 ft tall and 300 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About St. Charles Dam
The primary purpose of St. Charles 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 Illinois Department of Natural Resources (private). It impounds the Fox River near St.charles.
The dam stands 7 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 143 acre-feet. Completed in 1918, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 09/04/2024.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Kane |
| Nearest City | St.charles |
| River/Stream | Fox River |
| Coordinates | 41.91409, -88.31399 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1918 (108 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 143 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 143 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 143 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 09/04/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00913 |
| Federal ID | IL00913 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |