Fawell Dam is an earth dam located in DuPage County, Illinois, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 1,110 ft long, taller than 55% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Fawell Dam
The primary purpose of Fawell 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 Dupage County (local government). It impounds the West Branch Dupage River near Naperville.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 1,110 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,172 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 105 square miles. Completed in 1972, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 11/14/2025.
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 | Naperville |
| River/Stream | West Branch Dupage River |
| Coordinates | 41.78492, -88.17845 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,110 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,172 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,172 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 105 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 23,577 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Dupage County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 11/14/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL01236 |
| Federal ID | IL01236 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |