Dams in Cook County, Illinois
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 Available | 116 | Flood Risk Reduction | 2013 |
| Thomas J. O'brien Lock And Controlling Works | High | Not Available | 37 | Navigation | 1960 |
| Chicago River And Harbor Controlling Works | High | Not Available | 31 | Navigation | 1938 |
| Upper Salt Creek Structure 3 Dam | High | Not Available | 26 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1985 |
| Upper Salt Creek Structure 2 Dam | High | Not Available | 23 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1984 |
| Busse Woods Reservoir South Dam | High | Not Available | 23 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1977 |
| Midlothian Creek Dam | High | Not Available | 22 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1975 |
| Lake George Dam | High | Not Available | 20 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1969 |
| Richton Crossing Dam | High | Not Available | 16 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1976 |
| Lower Elmhurst Dam | High | Not Available | 15 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1994 |
| Brentwood Townehome Dam | High | Not Available | 14 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1960 |
| Upper Salt Creek Structure 4 Dam | High | Not Available | 14 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1987 |
| Grasslands Basin Dam | High | Not Available | 10 | Flood Risk Reduction | |
| Cornell Avenue Dam | High | Not Available | 9 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1977 |
| Maple Lake Dam | Significant | Not Available | 25 | Recreation | 1918 |
| Bullfrog Lake Dam | Significant | Not Available | 17 | Recreation | 1958 |
| Saganashkee Slough 1 Dam | Significant | Not Available | 14 | Recreation | 1948 |
| White Pine Ditch Dam | Significant | Not Available | 13 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1975 |
| Papoose Lake Dam | Significant | Not Available | 12 | Recreation | 1956 |
| Willow Higgins Reservoir Dam | Significant | Not Available | 12 | Flood Risk Reduction | |
| Techny Reservoir Dam | Significant | Not Available | 11 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1979 |
| Touhy Avenue Reservoir Dam | Significant | Not Available | 10 | Flood Risk Reduction | 2004 |
| Galvins Lake Dam | Significant | Not Available | 10 | Recreation | 1938 |
| Main Street Triangle Dam | Significant | Not Available | 9 | Flood Risk Reduction | |
| Tampier Lake Dam | Significant | Not Available | 9 | Recreation | 1964 |
| Saganashkee Slough 6 Dam | Significant | Not Available | 7 | Recreation | 1948 |
| Anets Woods West Basin Dam | Significant | Not Available | 0 | Flood Risk Reduction | |
| Sauk Trail Lake Dam | Low | Not Available | 18 | Recreation | 1923 |
| Skokie Lagoons Dredge Disposal Dam | Low | Not Available | 16 | Debris Control | 1990 |
| South Lake Of The Coves Dam | Low | Not Available | 16 | Recreation | 1969 |
| Chicago Botanical Gardens South Inlet Dam | Low | Not Available | 15 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1970 |
| Wetfoot Lake Dam | Low | Not Available | 13 | Fish and Wildlife Pond | |
| Holy Family Villa Lake Dam | Low | Not Available | 12 | Recreation | 1927 |
| Colette Highlands Dam | Low | Not Available | 10 | Flood Risk Reduction | |
| Lake Of The Coves Dam | Low | Not Available | 10 | Recreation | 1969 |
| Mayfair Reservoir Dam | Low | Not Available | 9 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1977 |
| Saganashkee Slough 7 Dam | Low | Not Available | 9 | Recreation | 1948 |
| Keene Lake Dam | Low | Not Available | 8 | Recreation | 1944 |
| Arboretum Of South Barrington Dam | Low | Not Available | 8 | Flood Risk Reduction | |
| Streamwood Golf Course Dam | Low | Not Available | 8 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1989 |
| Woodfield Lakes Dam | Low | Not Available | 8 | Recreation | 1977 |
| Saganashkee Slough 2 Dam | Low | Not Available | 8 | Recreation | 1948 |
| Labuy Lake Dam | Low | Not Available | 7 | Recreation | |
| Orland Park Basin Dam | Low | Not Available | 7 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1992 |