Willow Higgins Reservoir Dam
Willow Higgins Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Cook County, Illinois. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
About Willow Higgins Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Willow Higgins Reservoir 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 Chicago (local government). It impounds the Willow Higgins Creek near Chicago.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 32 acre-feet.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/04/2025.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Cook |
| Nearest City | Chicago |
| River/Stream | Willow Higgins Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.00453, -87.90431 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 32 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 32 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF CHICAGO |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/04/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL55035 |
| Federal ID | IL55035 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |