DuPage County Stormwater Management Operates Flood Control Facilities

Submitted by the DuPage County Stormwater Management

DuPage County Stormwater Management is operating the Elmhurst Quarry Flood Control Facility (Elmhurst) and Fawell Dam (Naperville) Saturday due to precipitation throughout the afternoon.

DuPage County received .75 to 1 inch of rain Saturday afternoon. This precipitation is in addition to 1.5 to 4 inches of rain received countywide on Friday. The combination of rainfall increased stream elevations enough Saturday afternoon to warrant operation of the Elmhurst Quarry along Salt Creek and Fawell Dam along the West Branch DuPage River. Several smaller, gravity-operated facilities may also be operating.

While minimal rainfall is forecasted Saturday evening, Stormwater Management staff will continue to monitor river elevations in both Salt Creek and the West Branch DuPage River and operate flood control facilities as necessary. In addition, low-lying areas may experience localized flooding.

Of the 16 flood control facilities DuPage County operates, four larger facilities have mechanical equipment allowing staff to control them according to a predetermined operating plan. The remaining facilities protect the surrounding areas from flooding without human intervention using fixed weirs and natural drainage systems. In total, the facilities have a floodwater storage capacity of nearly four billion gallons.

Residents may visit DuPage County Stormwater Management for more information about flood control facilities throughout the County, as well as to view rain and stream gages, forecasts and real-time pictures.