Rockford May Have A Huge Dam Problem

What role does (or can) the Fordam Dam play in flooding around the Stateline? A group is shedding light on the dam's need for massive repairs.

The website BrokenDamRodckford.com has published a list of the many repairs the Fordam Dam needs. The dam is controlled by ComEd. For many years, the dam has needed these repairs, and the website is urging ComEd to take action.

The dam is not built for flood control, but the 1975 permit states it should be used to maintain the recreational pool of the Rock River for Rockford, Loves Park, Machesney Park, Roscoe, and Rockton. However, it has not been effective due to lack of maintenance of the dam as well as the lack of response from ComEd. (BestDamRockford.com)

Among the many repairs needed, the website lists:

• High and low water alarms have not worked for years
• The Control Room at the Dam has press-on labels saying what to add or subtract from the digital displays to make the numbers match.
• The spill way of the Dam has only been cleared of trees and debris once in the last 10 years. Debris was piled up so much that it was visible on Google Maps Satellite

I'm no dam expert, but according to the 'February 2019' update on their website, it appears ComEd is doing some things to fix the dam problems.