The Busse Woods Dam Modification Project was completed in March of 2016. Hinged gates were installed in place of the fixed weir dam at the south end of Busse Lake and have been in operation since that time. The dam gates have performed as predicted by the many hydraulic models that were run as part of the engineered modification design. Operation of the gates is tied to an agreement with several other governmental agencies including the landowner, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, whose main objective is to keep the level of the water surface within Busse Lake as close to constant as possible.

Flooding at two major intersections in the Village was common, with subsequent lane closures lasting 24 to 48 hours prior to the installation of the gates. The flooding was a major disruption to trucks and employees traveling to and from the Elk Grove Business Park, as well as to residents of the Village. Since operation of the hinged gates began, the frequency of lane closures have been drastically reduced and when there have been lane closures, the severity and length of time of the closures have decreased.

The Village performs monthly inspections of the hydraulic equipment associated with the hinged gates, including all the hoses and valves on the closed system. In addition, the Village works with a structural engineering consultant to perform an annual inspection of the dam structure and the gates. During the inspection, the gates are completely opened and closed. Below is a picture of the inspector in a kayak on the downstream side of the dam. The gates are in the closed position to stop the flow of water over the dam so the inspection can be performed. As part of the dam inspection, there is a large valve that is tested which can be seen spraying water in the picture. After the inspection is performed, a detailed report is provided to all governmental agencies involved with the Busse Dam modification project.

Overall, the Village is quite pleased with the operation of the Busse Dam modifications. The gates have been effective in reducing the impact of flooding which is beneficial to commuters, business owners, and residents of Elk Grove Village.

Ronald R. Raphael, P.E.
Engineering Supervisor
Village of Elk Grove Village | Community Development Department
901 Wellington Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007