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Flooding

Real-time Flood Stage Information

Real-time information is now available for the Des Plaines River to help you determine actions to take in the event of a flood along the Des Plaines River.

The Village, in partnership with the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission, U.S. Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior, and NOAA National Weather Service Chicago, has installed a river gauge to measure the height of the water along the Des Plaines River.

The National Weather Service provides predictions as to how high the water will go based upon antecedent ground conditions, forecasted precipitation, and river hydraulics and hydrology.

Information on this website is the same information the Village uses to assess its response to flooding along the Des Plaines River.

The real-time data may be found on the National Weather Service website.

How to read the graph:

The stage of the river is the height of the water surface above a known elevation. In Lincolnshire, the gage datum listed as 629.98 (NAVD 1988). Based upon previous floods and response times, the Village has identified what will likely be observed at various stages. Specific responses are triggered when the National Weather Service predicts that a certain stage will be reached. Below is a summary of those responses specifically for Lincolnshire along the Des Plaines River. These readings do not have any meaning for the Chicago River, Indian Creek, Lincolnshire Creek, or other areas along the Des Plaines River outside of Lincolnshire.

10.5 feet - Action Stage
The Action Stage is a "heads-up" stage at which the National Weather Service begins to issue river flood advisories and river forecasts. At this stage, Village officials begin to monitor the river forecasts.

11.0 feet - Flood Stage (minor flooding)
Water begins to overflow onto Londonderry Lane. If the river is forecasted to increase above 11.0, the Village will monitor Londonderry Lane to determine if closure of the road is warranted.

12.7 feet - Moderate Flood Level
Water begins to pond on Lincolnshire Drive at Wiltshire Lane. Londonderry Lane is closed between Lincolnshire Drive and 45 Londonderry Lane. At this point, the Village may deploy pumps along Lincolnshire Drive to assist in the removal of water from the pavement.

15.5 feet - Major Flood Level
Water approaches the top of the river bank on the east side of the Des Plaines River. The Village may initiate sand bag operations to protect Village facilities. The decision to sand bag or not sand bag will be based upon many factors, including but not limited to: forecasted crest elevation, forecasted time to crest, available resources, weather conditions, and safety of workers and volunteers.

17.5 feet (100-year flood)
Lincolnshire Drive is closed from Cambridge Lane to Oxford Drive; Wiltshire Dr closed from Lincolnshire Dr to Cumberland; Cumberland Dr impacted; Oxford Drive between Half Day Rd and Essex Lane impacted; Stonegate Circle impacted; Half Day Rd between Village Hall and Oxford Drive (including Route 22 bridge over Des Plaines River) potentially impacted.

For more information on the gage, please contact the Public Works Department at 847.913.2360.