West Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Kane County, Illinois, built in 1951. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall, taller than 80% 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 West Lake Dam
The primary purpose of West Lake Dam is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Max Mcgraw Wildlife Foundation (private). It impounds the Trib Fox River near East Dundee.
The dam stands 35 feet tall, has a maximum storage capacity of 110 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1951, 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 10/24/2022.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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 | Kane |
| Nearest City | East Dundee |
| River/Stream | Trib Fox River |
| Coordinates | 42.08234, -88.27084 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Year Completed | 1951 (75 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 110 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 110 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | Max Mcgraw Wildlife Foundation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 10/24/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL55084 |
| Federal ID | IL55084 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |