44Total Dams
14High Hazard
13Significant
Dam Safety in Cook County, Illinois
Cook County has 44 dams tracked in the National Inventory of Dams. Of these, 14 are classified as high hazard — meaning failure would probably cause loss of human life. Another 13 carry a significant hazard classification.
The average dam in Cook County is 59 years old. The most common purpose is flood risk reduction. The tallest dam is Thorton Quarry Gap Dam at 116 ft.
Explore more: Oldest dams in Illinois · Tallest dams · High risk dams · Largest reservoirs
| Dam | Hazard | Condition | Height (ft) | Purpose | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thorton Quarry Gap Dam | High | Not assessed | 116 | Flood Risk Reduction | 2013 |
| Thomas J. O'brien Lock and Controlling Works | High | Not assessed | 37 | Navigation | 1960 |
| Chicago River and Harbor Controlling Works | High | Not assessed | 31 | Navigation | 1938 |
| Upper Salt Creek Structure 3 Dam | High | Not assessed | 26 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1985 |
| Upper Salt Creek Structure 2 Dam | High | Not assessed | 23 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1984 |
| Busse Woods Reservoir South Dam | High | Not assessed | 23 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1977 |
| Midlothian Creek Dam | High | Not assessed | 22 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1975 |
| Lake George Dam | High | Not assessed | 20 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1969 |
| Richton Crossing Dam | High | Not assessed | 16 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1976 |
| Lower Elmhurst Dam | High | Not assessed | 15 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1994 |
| Brentwood Townehome Dam | High | Not assessed | 14 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1960 |
| Upper Salt Creek Structure 4 Dam | High | Not assessed | 14 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1987 |
| Grasslands Basin Dam | High | Not assessed | 10 | Flood Risk Reduction | |
| Cornell Avenue Dam | High | Not assessed | 9 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1977 |
| Maple Lake Dam | Significant | Not assessed | 25 | Recreation | 1918 |
| Bullfrog Lake Dam | Significant | Not assessed | 17 | Recreation | 1958 |
| Saganashkee Slough 1 Dam | Significant | Not assessed | 14 | Recreation | 1948 |
| White Pine Ditch Dam | Significant | Not assessed | 13 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1975 |
| Papoose Lake Dam | Significant | Not assessed | 12 | Recreation | 1956 |
| Willow Higgins Reservoir Dam | Significant | Not assessed | 12 | Flood Risk Reduction | |
| Techny Reservoir Dam | Significant | Not assessed | 11 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1979 |
| Touhy Avenue Reservoir Dam | Significant | Not assessed | 10 | Flood Risk Reduction | 2004 |
| Galvins Lake Dam | Significant | Not assessed | 10 | Recreation | 1938 |
| Main Street Triangle Dam | Significant | Not assessed | 9 | Flood Risk Reduction | |
| Tampier Lake Dam | Significant | Not assessed | 9 | Recreation | 1964 |
| Saganashkee Slough 6 Dam | Significant | Not assessed | 7 | Recreation | 1948 |
| Anets Woods West Basin Dam | Significant | Not assessed | 0 | Flood Risk Reduction | |
| Sauk Trail Lake Dam | Low | Not assessed | 18 | Recreation | 1923 |
| Skokie Lagoons Dredge Disposal Dam | Low | Not assessed | 16 | Debris Control | 1990 |
| South Lake of the Coves Dam | Low | Not assessed | 16 | Recreation | 1969 |
| Chicago Botanical Gardens South Inlet Dam | Low | Not assessed | 15 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1970 |
| Wetfoot Lake Dam | Low | Not assessed | 13 | Fish and Wildlife Pond | |
| Holy Family Villa Lake Dam | Low | Not assessed | 12 | Recreation | 1927 |
| Colette Highlands Dam | Low | Not assessed | 10 | Flood Risk Reduction | |
| Lake of the Coves Dam | Low | Not assessed | 10 | Recreation | 1969 |
| Mayfair Reservoir Dam | Low | Not assessed | 9 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1977 |
| Saganashkee Slough 7 Dam | Low | Not assessed | 9 | Recreation | 1948 |
| Keene Lake Dam | Low | Not assessed | 8 | Recreation | 1944 |
| Arboretum of South Barrington Dam | Low | Not assessed | 8 | Flood Risk Reduction | |
| Streamwood Golf Course Dam | Low | Not assessed | 8 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1989 |
| Woodfield Lakes Dam | Low | Not assessed | 8 | Recreation | 1977 |
| Saganashkee Slough 2 Dam | Low | Not assessed | 8 | Recreation | 1948 |
| Labuy Lake Dam | Low | Not assessed | 7 | Recreation | |
| Orland Park Basin Dam | Low | Not assessed | 7 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1992 |