Upper Salt Creek Structure 4 Dam
Upper Salt Creek Structure 4 Dam is an earth dam located in Cook County, Illinois, built in 1987. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Upper Salt Creek Structure 4 Dam
The primary purpose of Upper Salt Creek Structure 4 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 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (local government). It impounds the Salt Creek near Palatine.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 3,000 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 775 acre-feet. Completed in 1987, the structure is 39 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 12/16/2024.
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 | Palatine |
| River/Stream | Salt Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.10312, -88.01479 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1987 (39 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 775 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 775 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 1,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 12/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50054 |
| Federal ID | IL50054 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |