Upper Sterling is a gravity dam located in Whiteside County, Illinois, built in 1907. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 10 ft10 ft tall and 1,170 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 Upper Sterling
The primary purpose of Upper Sterling is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Illinois Dept of Transportation (local government). It impounds the Rock Creek near Rock Falls.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 1,170 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,400 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8,750 square miles. Completed in 1907, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 07/27/2022.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Whiteside |
| Nearest City | Rock Falls |
| River/Stream | Rock Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.78910, -89.67931 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,170 ft |
| Year Completed | 1907 (119 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,400 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8,750 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 23,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Illinois Dept of Transportation |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/27/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50078 |
| Federal ID | IL50078 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |