Lower Elmhurst Dam is an earth dam located in Cook County, Illinois, built in 1994. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 15 ft15 ft tall and 2,200 ft long. 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 Lower Elmhurst Dam
The primary purpose of Lower Elmhurst 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 City of Elmhurst (local government). It impounds the Trib Addison Cr-offstream near Elmhurst.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 2,200 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 93 acre-feet. Completed in 1994, the structure is 32 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 11/08/2024.
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 | Elmhurst |
| River/Stream | Trib Addison Cr-offstream |
| Coordinates | 41.89302, -87.91932 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1994 (32 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 93 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 93 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Elmhurst |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 11/08/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50304 |
| Federal ID | IL50304 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |