Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois

Data Series 726

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
Cover. Snowplows attempting to push accumulated rainfall off the Tarmac at O’Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, 

September 14, 2008. Photograph used with permission of David Lastrucci, ALPI U.S.A. Inc.
Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in 

Northeastern Illinois

By David J. Fazio and Jennifer B. Sharpe 

Data Series 726

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2012

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reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Fazio, D.J., and Sharpe, J.B., 2012, Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in northeastern Illinois: U.S. Geological Survey 

Data Series 726, 40 p., at http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/726/.
iii

Acknowledgments

This report presents a compilation of information supplied by many agencies and individuals. 

The authors would like to thank the Illinois Department of Natural Resources–Office of Water 

Resources (IDNR-OWR) and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago 

(MWRDGC) for their work in measuring the elevation of the set high-water marks. The authors 

also acknowledge the many personnel in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)–Illinois Water 

Science Center who took streamflow measurements during the flooding and identified and 

flagged the high-water marks after the floodwaters had subsided. 

The authors acknowledge Bonnie Stich of the USGS–Office of Communications and Publishing 

for her timely and thorough editorial review of the report, and Pamela Lombard, Gary Johnson, 

and Jon Hortness of the USGS for their timely and thorough review of technical aspects of this 

report. Lastly, the authors acknowledge Tom Over, Audrey Ishii, and Kelly Warner of the USGS 

for their guidance throughout this study.
This page has been left blank intentionally.
v

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................1

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................1

Storm and Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois....................................................4

Flood-Peak Water-Surface Profiles...................................................................................................4

Flood Damages and Impacts ..............................................................................................................5

Summary........................................................................................................................................................22

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................22

Glossary.........................................................................................................................................................24

Appendix 1. High-Water Mark Site Description and Elevation at Select Stream Reaches,

Flood of September 2008, Northeastern Illinois ........................................................................26

Appendix 2. Example High-Water Mark Documentation Field Sheet, Flood of September

2008, Northeastern Illinois ............................................................................................................36

Appendix 3. Flood-Peak Water-Surface Profiles at Select Stream Reaches, Flood of

September 2008, Northeastern Illinois .......................................................................................37

Figures

1. Map of flood and high-flow conditions in the United States as measured by 

U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations on September 14, 2008.....................2

2. Map of study area showing locations of select streams, select U.S. Geological

Survey streamgages, and high-water marks from the September 13–16, 2008, flood......3

3. Map showing Next Generation RADAR (NEXRAD) total storm precipitation during

September 12–14, 2008, in northeastern Illinois ......................................................................7

4. Graph showing cumulative precipitation during September 3–14, 2008, for select

rain gages in northeastern Illinois .............................................................................................8

5. Photographs of selected high-water marks in October 2008..............................................20

6. Photographs of the Elmhurst Quarry Flood Control Facility, DuPage County, Illinois .....21

7. Photogragh of passenger jet taxiing to a terminal at O'Hare International Airport,

Chicago, Illinois, September 14, 2008 ......................................................................................21

Tables

1. Rainfall data for a 3-day period at selected rain gages in northeastern Illinois,

September 12–14, 2008 ..............................................................................................................10

2. Flood-peak gage height, peak discharge, and annual exceedance probability of

peak discharge during the flood of September 2008 at selected U.S. Geological

Survey streamgages in northeastern Illinois .........................................................................16

3. List of communities, by stream reach, and approximate number of miles where

high-water marks were set for the September 13–16, 2008, flood in 

northeastern Illinois ...................................................................................................................18

4. Counties eligible for individual disaster assistance approved by the Federal

Emergency Management Agency and ranked by dollar amount.......................................22
vi

Conversion Factors, Datums, and Abbreviations

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Volume

acre foot 1,233 cubic meter (m3

)

gallon (gal) 3.785 liter (L)

gallon (gal) 0.003785 cubic meter (m3

)

Flow rate

gallon per minute (gal/min) 0.06309 liter per second (L/s)

inch per year (in/yr) 25.4 millimeter per year (mm/yr)

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F=(1.8×°C)+32

Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) as follows:

°C=(°F–32)/1.8

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 

(NAVD 88).

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum.
vii

List of Abbreviations

AEP annual exceedance probability

CSO combined sewer overflow

FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency 

FGCS Federal Geodetic Control Subcommittee 

GIS Geographic Information System

GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System

IDNR–OWR Illinois Department of Natural Resources–Office of Water Resources 

IDOT Illinois Department of Transportation

ISWS Illinois State Water Survey

KML Keyhole Markup Language

MWRDGC Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago 

NEXRAD Next Generation RADAR

NGS National Geodetic Survey

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

NWS National Weather Service

PFDS Precipitation Frequency Data Server 

RADAR Radio Detection and Ranging

TARP Tunnel and Reservoir Plan

USGS U.S. Geological Survey
This page has been left blank intentionally.
Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois

By David J. Fazio and Jennifer B. Sharpe

Abstract

Major flooding occurred in northeastern Illinois during 

September 13–16, 2008, following extended storm activity. 

Rainfall recorded at select Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS), 

National Weather Service (NWS), and U.S. Geological 

Survey (USGS) rain gages in northeastern Illinois, ranged 

from 2.39 to 10.51 inches throughout a 51-hour period 

during September 12–14, 2008. The rainfall resulted in 

extensive urban drainage1

 and riverine flooding, causing 

the evacuation of thousands of residents, millions of dollars 

in damages, hundreds of road closings, and two waterrelated fatalities in the greater Chicago area. Nine counties in 

northeastern Illinois (16 counties throughout the State) were 

declared Federal disaster areas.

USGS streamgages recorded new record-peak 

streamflows at 13 locations as a result of the heavy rainfall. 

Four streamgages had a calculated annual exceedance 

probability (AEP) ranging from 0.2 to 1 percent, and one 

streamgage had a calculated AEP of less than 0.2 percent. 

During this flood event, USGS crews made 48 streamflow 

measurements at 45 streamgages. After the high-water had 

subsided, USGS crews set 230 high-water marks in over 

40 communities along 131 miles of streams. The elevations 

for 117 high-water marks along approximately 100 miles 

of streams were measured by the Metropolitan Water 

Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) and 

the Illinois Department of Natural Resources–Office of Water 

Resources (IDNR–OWR). Flood peak water-surface profiles 

for select streams are plotted from the high-water mark data.

Introduction 

During September 13 and 14, 2008, heavy rains caused 

severe flooding in several Midwestern States (fig. 1). The 

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Illinois Water Science Center 

responded to this flood event as part of its mission to provide 

1

Bolded terms (or close variants thereof) are defined in the glossary near the 

end of the report.

scientific, unbiased information about the Nation’s rivers and 

streams. To meet critical needs for real-time streamflow data 

during the September 2008 flood event, USGS personnel 

were mobilized to the areas of flooding in order to make 

direct streamflow measurements and maintain the operational 

readiness of the streamgages (See Activities Log at http://

il.water.usgs.gov/flooddata/viewNews.cgi?date=20080913). 

USGS personnel collected 48 streamflow measurements at 

45 streamgages; 4 additional streamflow measurements were 

made at 3 ungaged locations, where flooding was particularly 

severe. After the floodwaters receded, high-water marks were 

set in 12 drainage basins in northeastern Illinois (fig. 2). Of 

these drainage basins, high-water marks were measured along 

the following select streams: Des Plaines River, North Branch 

Chicago River, West Branch DuPage River, East Branch 

DuPage River, DuPage River, Johnny Run, and Illinois River.

Purpose and Scope

This report summarizes the high-water mark data 

and presents flood-peak water-surface profiles of select 

stream reaches during the September 13–16, 2008, flood in 

northeastern Illinois. This report describes the meteorological 

conditions leading up to the flood, recorded rainfall, recorded 

flood-peak gage heights, and the flood-peak discharges

with computed annual exceedance probabilities2

 (AEPs) at 

USGS streamgages. The impact and damages of the flood also 

are summarized.

2

 The annual exceedance probability (AEP) is the probability that a given 

event magnitude will be exceeded or equaled in any given year. For example, 

the AEP of the 50-year peak-flood streamflow is 0.02. In other words, there 

is a 2-percent chance that the 50-year peak flow will be exceeded or equaled 

in any given year. The reciprocal of the AEP is the recurrence interval. The 

recurrence interval (or return period) is the statistically computed average 

period of time within which a given event will be equal to or greater than 

a specified magnitude. This does not imply that an event of a specified 

magnitude will happen at regular intervals. For example, a 50-year rainfall 

is the rainfall that would be equal to or greater than the long-term average 

rainfall of once in 50 years. Two 50-year rainfalls could be experienced in 

2 consecutive years (Hodgkins and others, 2007).
2 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois 

Figure 1. Map of flood and high-flow conditions in the United States as measured by U.S. Geological Survey gaging

stations on September 14, 2008.

Figure 1. Flood and high-flow conditions in the United States as measured by U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations 

on September 14, 2008.
Introduction 3

Figure 2. Map of study area showing the location of select streams, select U.S. Geological Survey streamgages, and high-water marks from

the September 13-16, 2008 flood. 

#

#

#

05529000#

#

05550500

#05539900

#

05540095

05540130# #

05540250

#05540500

#

05439000

#

88°30' 88°0' 87°30'

42°30'

42°0'

41°30'

Will

Lake

McHenry

Boone

Cook

La Salle

Kane De Kalb

Kankakee

Grundy

DuPage

Kendall

Lake Michigan

0 10 20 MILES

0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Chicago

Joliet

Aurora

Elgin

Naperville

Bartlett

Bolingbrook

DeKalb

Sycamore

Glenview

Plainfield

Des Plaines Niles

Morris

West 

Chicago

Lansing

Channahon

Roselle

Yorkville

Carol 

Stream

Mount Prospect

Minooka

Hanover 

Park

Oak Park

Forest Park

Wilmington

River Grove

Albany

 Park

Winfield

Melrose Park

River Forest

Genoa

Mazon

Prospect Heights

Rosemont

Park Ridge

Schiller Park

Elmwood Park

Riverside

Lyons

South Holland

Calumet 

 City

Stone Park

Woodridge

Northlake

Bellwood

Warrenville

Shorewood

Des Plaines

Illinois

River

River

River

River

River

River

River

River

Fox

DuPage

DuPage

Salt Creek

North Branch

Chicago

W. Br.

E. Br.

Johnny Run

Addison Cr.

ILLINOIS

Map

Area

S. Branch

Kishwaukee

Poplar Creek

Kankakee EXPLANATION

# U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station with identifier

High-water mark location

05550500

E. Br. S. Br.

Harvey

Thornton

Brookfield

Broadview

Franklin Park Elmhurst

 Quarry

Willmette

T.J. O’Brien Lock

Chicago

River

Controlling

Works

Maywood

Elburn

Old Edgebrook

O’Hare South Edgebrook Airport

05532000

05532500

05536000

05536105

Northbrook

Little Calumet R.

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Hebron

05530990 #

St. Louis

Figure 2. Locations of select streams, select U.S. Geological Survey streamgages, and high-water marks from the 

September 13–16, 2008, flood.
4 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois 

Storm and Flood of September 13–16, 

2008, in Northeastern Illinois

Approximately 51 consecutive hours of rainfall (as 

measured at real-time gages during September 12–14) 

in northeastern Illinois caused new record flood-peak 

streamflows at USGS streamgages. Prior to this, Illinois had 

experienced the wettest January–July on record (Illinois 

State Water Survey, 2008a). While the August statewide 

precipitation was 1.4 in. below normal, combined with the 

above-normal precipitation of the preceding months, the 

statewide January–August precipitation total was 8.0 in. above 

normal (Illinois State Water Survey, 2008b).

On September 4th, tropical depression Gustav (an 

Atlantic storm) tracked northeasterly through central Illinois 

on a line between St. Louis, Mo. and Kankakee, Ill. As the 

storm progressed, it became extratropical as it merged with 

a cold front (Beven and Kimberlain, 2008). The slow, steady 

movement of this storm produced 1 to 4 in. of rain throughout 

most of Illinois (Illinois State Water Survey, 2008c). On 

September 8th, a narrow band of rainfall, greater than 1 in., 

further saturated northern DuPage and Cook Counties 

(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National 

Climatic Data Center NEXRAD Data Inventory, accessed 

May 9, 2011, at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/nexradinv/). On 

September 12th, Tropical Depression Lowell (a Pacific storm) 

merged with a front over the central United States (Berg, 

2008). This storm moved across northern Illinois on Saturday, 

September 13th, generating the heaviest rainfall during the 

combined 3-day (September 12–14) rainfall event.

At the same time, Hurricane Ike (an Atlantic storm) was 

downgraded to a tropical depression as it passed through 

Arkansas into Missouri (Berg, 2009). On Sunday, September 

14th, Tropical Depression Ike tracked into Illinois, south of 

Saint Louis, and merged with the trailing end of the storm that 

had been fueled by Tropical Depression Lowell (Berg, 2008). 

The combination of the two storms produced additional rain 

over large areas of northeastern Illinois, which were already 

saturated from the previous day of rainfall. Precipitation in 

La Salle, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage, and Cook Counties was 

particularly severe with the region’s 3-day Next Generation 

RADAR (NEXRAD) rainfall total measuring from 1 in. 

to greater than 10 in. (fig. 3), and the 12-day cumulative 

precipitation at select USGS rain gages (where the rainfall was 

most severe) measured as much as 13.68 in. (fig. 4).

Data from USGS, DuPage County, Illinois State Water 

Survey (ISWS), and National Weather Service (NWS) rain 

gages corroborate the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA) NEXRAD data. The measured stormevent totals (precipitation during September 12–September 14) 

at select rain gages had a range similar to the NEXRAD data. 

The select rain-gage totals ranged from 2.39 in. at Hebron, 

Ill., to 10.51 in. at Elburn, Ill. (table 1). Based on the NOAA 

Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center Precipitation 

Frequency Data Server (PFDS), 16 of the 95 select rain gages 

had an AEP ranging from 1 to 0.5 percent, and 2 rain gages 

had an AEP ranging from 0.5 to 0.2 percent. The AEP was 

computed on the basis of the partial-duration series for a 

72-hour duration rainfall.

USGS streamgages in northeastern Illinois (with more 

than 10 years of data) recorded new record flood-peak 

streamflows at 13 locations (table 2). An AEP ranging from 

1 to 2 percent was calculated at four gages; an AEP ranging 

from 0.2 to 1 percent was calculated at three gages; and an 

AEP of less than 0.2 percent was calculated at one gage (Salt 

Creek at Rolling Meadows, USGS station 05530990) (Holmes 

and others, 2010).

Flood-Peak Water-Surface Profiles

High-water marks are evidence of the highest stage 

reached by a flood (Benson and Dalrymple, 1967). Two weeks 

after the September 2008 flood event, high-water marks were 

identified and flagged (appendix 1) in 43 communities, along 

131 mi of 12 streams (table 3). The high-water mark evidence 

flagged for measurement consisted of the concentrated 

remains of buoyant material such as seeds, dried grass, 

polystyrene-foam particles, sticks and debris, or a “line” 

created as suspended sediment in the water coated submerged 

objects. Most of the high-water marks were flagged at bridge 

crossings and parks, as these provided the easiest access 

to the stream reach. High-water marks often were located 

on bridge structures, trees, fence posts, sign posts, utility 

poles, buildings, and electrical housings. High-water marks 

were flagged with either a blaze of paint or a floodmark disk 

and flagging. All high-water marks set were described on 

a field-data sheet (appendix 2) and most high-water marks 

were photographed (fig. 5). Copies of the field-data sheets, 

photographs, and a Keyhole Markup Language (KML) file of 

the high-water mark locations were delivered to Metropolitan 

Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) 

and Illinois Department of Natural Resources–Office of Water 

Resources (IDNR–OWR) for the elevations to be measured 

using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) or a 

digital level.

The elevation survey was conducted during summer 

2009. Of the 239 high-water marks set, 121 were surveyed. 

Surveyed elevations were measured in relation to NAVD 

88. The IDNR–OWR surveyed high-water marks set on the 

DuPage River, West Branch DuPage River, East Branch 

DuPage River, Johnny Run Creek, and Illinois River. The 

IDNR–OWR ran levels from National Geodetic Survey 

(NGS) 1st or 2nd vertical-order bench marks or IDNR–OWR 

bench marks. IDNR–OWR ran constant level lines the 

length of the flood area (or “main run”) while measuring to 
Storm and Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois 5

established bench marks along the main run. The main run 

and all measurements to established bench marks was run as 

a closed-loop survey with errors not exceeding 0.005 inch 

per mile (L. Woodward, Illinois Department of Natural 

Resources–Office of Water Resources, written commun., 

2011). The MWRDGC contracted with an engineering firm to 

survey high-water marks on the Des Plaines and North Branch 

Chicago Rivers. The engineering firm established horizontal 

and vertical ground control using GNSS technology, which 

met the specifications of the Federal Geodetic Control 

Subcommittee (FGCS) Second Order Class One and the 

accuracy standards in Federal Emergency Management 

Agency (FEMA) Guidelines and Specifications for Flood 

Hazard Mapping Partners, Appendix A—Guidance for Aerial 

Mapping and Surveying, 2003. High-water marks without 

satellite obstruction were directly measured by a GNSS. 

High-water marks with satellite obstruction were measured 

by setting two reference points with a GNSS and measuring 

to the high-water mark with a total station (J. Kratzer, 

MetropolitanWater Reclamation District Greater Chicago, 

written commun., 2011). The MWRDGC contracted with a 

second engineering firm to survey the high-water marks on the 

Little Calumet River. These high-water marks were measured 

to the same standards as the high-water marks measured on the 

Des Plaines and North Branch Chicago Rivers (M. Rembold, 

Camp Dresser & McKee, written commun., 2011).

Flood-peak water-surface profiles were produced by 

plotting high-water mark elevations by river mile. River mile 

was measured from the mouth of the river and was calculated 

by a Geographic Information System (GIS) program. The 

water surface between high-water marks was estimated by 

linear interpolation, creating an approximation of the actual 

water surface. High-water mark elevations are referenced 

to NAVD 88 (appendix 3). Of the 117 surveyed high-water 

marks, 1 has been annotated as unsuitable for use in the floodpeak water-surface profile.

Flood Damages and Impacts

Excessive rainfall on saturated soils and impervious land 

surfaces resulted in extensive urban drainage and riverine 

flooding. The flooding caused the evacuation of thousands 

of residents (Changnon, 2010); more than $110 million 

in damages to residences, businesses, infrastructure and 

crops; five injuries; and 2 drowning fatalities (National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2008). In DuPage 

County, the Elmhurst Quarry Flood Control Facility diverted 

enough water from Salt Creek to fill the 8,300 acre-foot 

(2.7 billion gal) reservoir (fig. 6) (Illinois Environmental 

Protection Agency, 2009). In Cook County, the MWRDGC 

reported the Deep Tunnel, one portion of the Tunnel and 

Reservoir Plan (TARP), was filled to capacity—7,074 acrefoot (2.305 billion gal)—by 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 

13th. The TARP is a combination of 109 mi of underground 

tunnels and two reservoirs designed to capture combined 

sewer overflow (CSO) and provide overbank flood relief; the 

TARP has a capacity of 17,660 acre-foot (5.755 billion gal). 

Prior to reaching the TARP’s capacity, MWRDGC officials 

reversed the flow of the Chicago River by opening the gate at 

Wilmette, the T.J. O’Brien lock, and the lock at the Chicago 

River Controlling Works. The MWRDGC reported that 

approximately 34,370 acre-foot (11.2 billion gal) of storm 

water was released into Lake Michigan and 153,400 acre-foot 

(50 billion gal) into the Des Plains River (E. Staudacher, 

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, 

written commun., 2011).

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) 

closed 25 roads owing to flooding. IDOT reported another 

101 intersections with excessive water, of which 11 were 

reported impassable. Other road closures included sections 

of three U.S. interstates; four U.S. highways; and seven 

Illinois state highways (Illinois Department of Natural 

Resources—Office of Water Resources, 2008). Floodwater 

closed two commuter rails and several freight rails for 

2 to 3 days (Changnon, 2010). Flight delays at O’Hare 

International Airport and Midway Airport ranged from 6 to 

8 hours (Changnon, 2010). Several feet of water at O’Hare 

Airport (fig. 7) caused closing of some taxiways and gate 

areas (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 

2008). For the first time in 74 years, the Brookfield Zoo 

was closed because of flooded roads, viewing galleries, 

and exhibits. Lions, bears, and other large carnivores were 

restricted from their outdoor habitats as it was possible for the 

animals to swim across the moats inundated with floodwater 

(Chicago Tribune, 2008). Damage from overbank flooding 

was particularly severe in the Chicago communities of Morris 

(Grundy County); Warrenville (DuPage County); (fig. 7) and 

River Forest, Schiller Park, Des Plaines, and Albany Park 

(Cook County) (table 2).

On October 3, 2008, President George W. Bush signed 

Major Disaster Declaration FEMA–1800–DR for Cook, 

DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, LaSalle, and Will Counties, 

Ill., which qualified these counties to receive public and (or) 

individual assistance through FEMA. On November 18, 

2008, the list was updated to include two additional counties 

(outside the scope of this report) to receive public and (or) 

individual assistance, and Kendall County and six other 

counties (outside the scope of this report) to receive public 

assistance only (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 

2008a). As of December 19, 2008, FEMA had approved more 

than $69 Million in disaster assistance for residents of Illinois. 

In the 9 counties approved for individual disaster assistance, 

more than 26 thousand claims totaling $54 Million were 

approved (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2008b). 

The overwhelming majority of these claims were from Cook 

County (table 4).
6 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois 

3.25/R1

9.20/R2

8.74/R3

8.50/R4

8.45/R5

8.39/R6

8.32/R7

8.31/R8

8.19/R9

8.19/R10

8.12/R11

8.12/R12

7.84/R13

7.77/R14

7.69/R15

7.62/R17

7.58/R18

7.31/R20

7.28/R21

7.19/R22 7.09/R23 6.94/R24

6.72/R25

6.67/R26

6.60/R27

6.59/R28

6.58/R29 6.57/R30

6.54/R31

6.39/R32

6.39/R33

5.79/R34

5.78/R35

5.70/R36

5.68/R37

5.54/R38

5.21/R39

8.11/R40

5.98/R41

4.63/R42

8.47/R44

8.37/R45

8.08/R46

7.89/R47

7.09/R48

7.03/R49

6.86/R50

6.69/R52

6.59/R53

6.57/R54

6.19/R55

6.08/R56 5.99/R58

5.88/R59

5.75/R60

5.60/R61

4.82/R63

10.51/R66

9.46/R67

8.74/R68

7.72/R69

7.08/R70

7.06/R71

6.26/R72

6.63/R73

6.21/R74 6.39/R75 6.10/R76

5.38/R80

5.13/R81 5.99/R82

5.38/R83

3.75/R84

3.06/R85

3.03/R86 2.45/R87

2.39/R88

6.93/R92

6.12/R93

6.11/R94

5.92/R95

Cook

Kane

Lake

De Kalb Ogle

Lee

McHenry

Winnebago

Boone

Du Page

Kendall

87°30' 88° 88°30' 89°

42°30'

42°

41°30'

River

S. Branch

Kishwaukee

E. Br. S. Br.

River

Fox

Poplar

Creek

Salt 

Creek

Du Page

River

River

Du Page

River

Du 

E. Br. Page

River

Des Plaines

North Branch Chicago

River

Little 

Calumet R.

Lake 

Michigan

7.67/R16

7.38/R19

8.73/R43

Addison Cr.

6.80/R51 5.30/R62
Storm and Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois 

7

Figure 3. Map showing Next Generation RADAR (NEXRAD) and rain gage total storm precipitation during September 12–14, 2008, in northeastern Illinois.

4.08/R79

!

EXPLANATION

Total precipitation for September 12–15, 2008, in inches

Radar siteLess than 11 to 1.992 to 2.993 to 3. 99

4 to 4.995 to 5.996 to 7.998 to 9.9910 and greater

Rain gage with total precipitation for  September 12–15, 2008, in inches  and rain gage identifier

8.74/R3

8.50/R4

8.32/R7

8.31/R8

8.12/R11

8.12/R12

7.77/R14

6.89/R64

5.75/R65

6.21/R74 6.39/R75 6.10/R76

5.46/R77

4.66/R78 4.08/R79

8.68/R89

8.59/R90

7.44/R91

6.93/R92

Will

La Salle

Kankakee

Grundy

41°30'

Illinois

River

Johnny Run

Du Page

0 20 MILES 100 20 KILOMETERS 10

Figure 3. Next Generation RADAR (NEXRAD) total storm precipitation during September 12–14, 2008, in northeastern Illinois.
8 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois 8642016141210

9/3/2008 9/4/2008 9/5/2008 9/6/2008 9/7/2008 9/8/2008 9/9/2008 9/10/2008 9/11/2008 9/12/2008 9/13/2008 9/14/2008

Date

Cumulative precipitation, in inches

Figure 4. Graph showing cumulative precipitation during September 3--14, 2008, for select rain gages in northeastern Illinois.

Salt Creek at Rolling Meadows, Ill. (Station number 05530990, point R2 on figure 3)Rain Gage near Chicago Heights, Ill. (Station number 413113087342201, point R7 on figure 3)O’Hare Airport at Chicago, Ill. (Station number 415755087525300, point R13 on figure 3)Wood Dale WWTF at Wood Dale, Ill. (Station number 415751087591000, point R43 on figure 3)Carol Stream WWTF at Carol Stream, Ill. (Station number 415423088081500, point R47 on figure 3)Fearson Creek near St. Charles, Ill. (Station number 05551200, point R68 on figure 3)Mill Creek near Batavia, Ill. (Station number 05551330, point R69 on figure 3)

Figure 4. Cumulative precipitation during September 3–14, 2008, for select rain gages in northeastern Illinois.
This page has been left blank intentionally.
10 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois

Table 1. Rainfall data for a 3-day period at selected rain gages in northeastern Illinois, September 12–14, 2008. 

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; AP, airport; GDN, garden; S, south; SE, south east; SSE, south south-east; SW, south west; HSE, house; WWTF, waste 

water treatment facility; W, west; WSW, west south-west; NE, north east; NW, north west; IS, island; L&D, lock and dam; RD, road; WFO, weather 

forecast office,]

County

Map 

reference

 number 

(fig. 3)

Agency 

station number Agency station name Reporting agency

Latitude

(degrees, 

minutes, 

seconds)

Boone R1 110583 Belvidere NWS 42° 15’ 18”

Cook R2 5530990 Salt Creek at Rolling Meadows, IL USGS 42°03 ́38 ̋

R3 116616 Park Forest NWS 41° 29’ 41”

R4 114890 Lansing NWS 41° 32’ 31”

R5 111549 Chicago Ohare AP NWS 41° 59’ 42”

R6 G3 Des Plaines ISWS 42°01 ́21.0 ̋

R7 413113087342201 Rain Gage near Chicago Heights, IL USGS 41°31 ́13 ̋

R8 G22 Harvey ISWS 41°35 ́08.4 ̋

R9 G2 Winnetka ISWS 42°06 ́29.2 ̋

R10 G23 Lansing - Police Department ISWS 41°35 ́16.0 ̋

R11 G24 Matteson - Police Department ISWS 41°31 ́04.4 ̋

R12 G25 Chicago Heights - Big John’s Farm Stand ISWS 41°31 ́14.55 ̋

R13 415755087525300 O’Hare Airport at Chicago, IL USGS 41°57 ́55 ̋

R14 G21 Tinley Park ISWS 41°35 ́12.5 ̋

R15 G4 Village of Skokie ISWS 42°01 ́36.2 ̋

R16 118324 Streamwood NWS 42° 01’ 32”

R17 111497 Chicago Botanical GDN NWS 42° 08’ 26”

R18 G1 Northbrook - Mission Brook Sanitary District ISWS 42°06 ́38.85 ̋

R19 420052088034200 Schaumburg Public Works at Schaumburg, IL USGS 42°00 ́52 ̋

R20 G5 Franklin Park ISWS 41°55 ́55.3 ̋

R21 G20 Orland Park ISWS 41°35 ́12.3 ̋

R22 G18 West 119th Street - Heat Corp. of America ISWS 41°40 ́40.9 ̋

R23 G17 Alsip - Fire Department Station #2 ISWS 41°40 ́30.1 ̋

R24 G19 Avenue O ISWS 41°40 ́21.5 ̋

R25 G16 Palos Park ISWS 41°39 ́47.4 ̋

R26 G6 North Central Chicago, near Belmont ISWS 41°56 ́17.0 ̋

R27 G14 South Water Purification Plant ISWS 41°45 ́27.2 ̋

R28 114816 La Grange NWS 41° 47’ 43”

R29 111577 Chicago Midway AP 3SW NWS 41° 44’ 14”

R30 115110 Little Red School HSE NWS 41° 42’ 56”

R31 G13 Greune Coal Company ISWS 41°45 ́30.1 ̋

R32 110442 Barrington 3SW NWS 42° 06’ 55”

R33 G15 Lemont - Saint Mary’s Seminary ISWS 41°40 ́45.9 ̋

R34 G8 Westchester - Forest Preserve ISWS 41°50 ́41.1 ̋

R35 G12 Near Bedford Park - CP Hall ISWS 41°45 ́30.7 ̋

R36 G10 West 26th Street ISWS 41°50 ́42.5 ̋

R37 G9 Oak Park ISWS 41°52 ́20 ̋

R38 G11 La Grange ISWS 41°45 ́31.8 ̋

R39 G7 Broadway United Methodist Church ISWS 41°56 ́35.1 ̋
Storm and Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois 11

Table 1. Rainfall data for a 3-day period at selected rain gages in northeastern Illinois, September 12–14, 2008.—Continued

Longitude

(degrees, 

minutes, 

seconds)

Total 

precipitation 

(inches)

72-hour duration rainfall (inches) for selected annual exceedance probabilities 

computed on the basis of the partial-duration series 1, 2

1.00 0.50 0.20 0.10 0.04 0.02 0.01 0.005 0.002

-88° 51’ 52” 3.25 2.94 3.53 4.34 5.01 5.99 6.83 7.76 8.80 10.40

-88°01 ́00 ̋ 9.20 2.91 3.49 4.33 5.02 5.99 6.81 7.69 8.65 10.10

-87° 40’ 49” a

8.74 3.05 3.68 4.59 5.35 6.44 7.34 8.32 9.37 10.90

-87° 32’ 29” a8.50 3.02 3.63 4.54 5.28 6.34 7.22 8.16 9.16 10.60

-87° 56’ 01” 8.45 2.89 3.48 4.34 5.04 6.06 6.91 7.83 8.84 10.30

-87°52 ́39.9 ̋ 8.39 2.88 3.47 4.32 5.02 6.03 6.87 7.78 8.77 10.20

-87°34 ́22 ̋ 8.32 3.04 3.66 4.57 5.31 6.38 7.27 8.21 9.22 10.70

-87°38 ́00.9 ̋ 8.31 3.01 3.62 4.53 5.27 6.34 7.22 8.16 9.18 10.70

-87°45 ́06.5 ̋ b

8.19 2.81 3.38 4.20 4.87 5.82 6.60 7.43 8.31 9.60

-87°32 ́50.1 ̋ 8.19 2.99 3.60 4.50 5.23 6.29 7.16 8.09 9.09 10.50

-87°43 ́58.5 ̋ 8.12 3.04 3.66 4.58 5.34 6.44 7.37 8.38 9.48 11.10

-87°34 ́24.4 ̋ b8.12 3.04 3.66 4.57 5.31 6.38 7.27 8.21 9.22 10.70

-87°52 ́53 ̋ 7.84 2.89 3.49 4.35 5.06 6.09 6.95 7.88 8.90 10.40

-87°44 ́54.7 ̋ 7.77 3.01 3.63 4.54 5.29 6.39 7.31 8.32 9.43 11.10

-87°45 ́21.2 ̋ 7.69 2.86 3.45 4.30 5.00 6.00 6.83 7.72 8.68 10.10

-88° 10’ 42” c7.67 2.99 3.59 4.43 5.12 6.11 6.94 7.85 8.85 10.30

-87° 47’ 12” a7.62 2.79 3.35 4.16 4.81 5.73 6.49 7.29 8.13 9.35

-87°52 ́05.4 ̋ 7.58 2.84 3.42 4.25 4.92 5.87 6.65 7.49 8.38 9.69

-88°03 ́42 ̋ 7.38 2.93 3.53 4.38 5.07 6.08 6.92 7.85 8.86 10.40

-87°52 ́41.3 ̋ 7.31 2.91 3.50 4.37 5.09 6.14 7.02 7.97 9.02 10.60

-87°52 ́33 ̋ b7.28 3.00 3.61 4.52 5.29 6.44 7.44 8.57 9.85 11.80

-87°39 ́04.4 ̋ b7.19 2.96 3.57 4.47 5.20 6.25 7.13 8.07 9.08 10.60

-87°45 ́00.0 ̋ 7.09 3.00 3.61 4.51 5.26 6.34 7.24 8.22 9.28 10.90

-87°32 ́22.7 ̋ 6.94 2.92 3.51 4.39 5.11 6.14 6.99 7.90 8.87 10.30

-87°52 ́13.5 ̋ 6.72 2.99 3.60 4.51 5.27 6.40 7.38 8.47 9.70 11.60

-87°45 ́39.4 ̋ 6.67 2.95 3.55 4.44 5.16 6.20 7.07 8.00 9.00 10.50

-87°32 ́37.9 ̋ 6.60 2.85 3.43 4.29 4.99 5.99 6.81 7.69 8.63 9.98

-87° 52’ 15” d6.59 2.98 3.59 4.49 5.24 6.35 7.30 8.35 9.52 11.30

-87° 46’ 39” 6.58 3.01 3.62 4.53 5.27 6.35 7.24 8.23 9.30 10.90

-87° 52’ 57” a6.57 2.99 3.60 4.50 5.26 6.40 7.37 8.47 9.70 11.60

-87°38 ́29.9 ̋ 6.54 2.94 3.54 4.42 5.15 6.19 7.05 7.98 8.98 10.40

-88° 09’ 50” c6.39 2.96 3.55 4.36 5.02 5.92 6.67 7.45 8.28 9.47

-87°57 ́54.4 ̋ 6.39 2.97 3.58 4.48 5.25 6.44 7.49 8.70 10.10 12.30

-87°52 ́55.6 ̋ 5.79 2.96 3.56 4.45 5.20 6.29 7.23 8.27 9.42 11.20

-87°46 ́06.8 ̋ 5.78 3.01 3.62 4.53 5.27 6.35 7.25 8.23 9.29 10.90

-87°38 ́28.1 ̋ 5.70 2.93 3.54 4.42 5.15 6.20 7.08 8.02 9.04 10.60

-87°46 ́18 ̋ 5.68 2.97 3.58 4.47 5.21 6.27 7.15 8.11 9.14 10.70

-87°53 ́20.2 ̋ 5.54 2.98 3.59 4.49 5.25 6.38 7.36 8.45 9.67 11.60

-87°38 ́42.3 ̋ 5.21 2.94 3.54 4.43 5.16 6.20 7.07 8.01 9.02 10.50
12 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois 

Table 1. Rainfall data for a 3-day period at selected rain gages in northeastern Illinois, September 12–14, 2008.—Continued

County

Map 

reference

 number 

(fig. 3)

Agency 

station number Agency station name Reporting agency

Latitude

(degrees, 

minutes, 

seconds)

DeKalb R40 117833 Shabbona 3S NWS 41° 43' 56"

R41 112223 DeKalb NWS 41° 56' 03"

R42 113392 Genoa 2 SW NWS 42° 04' 28"

DuPage R43 415751087591000 Wood Dale WWTF at Wood Dale, IL USGS 41°57 ́51 ̋

R44 415651088051900 Bloomingdale Lift Station at Bloomingdale, IL USGS 41°56 ́51 ̋

R45 415801088095700 Bartlett WWTF near Bartlett, IL USGS 41°58 ́01 ̋

R46 415518087583000 Addison WWTF at Addison, IL USGS 41°55 ́18 ̋

R47 415423088081500 Carol Stream WWTF at Carol Stream, IL USGS 41°54 ́23 ̋

R48 05531300 Salt Creek at Elmhurst, IL USGS 41°53 ́10 ̋

R49 415300088054600 Wheaton Water Department at Wheaton, IL USGS 41°53 ́00 ̋

R50 113490 Glen Ellyn 4S NWS 41° 49' 36"

R51 05540060 Kress Creek at West Chicago, IL USGS 41°51 ́23 ̋

R52 415037088110600 Blackwell Forest Preserve near Warrenville, IL USGS 41°50 ́37 ̋

R53 115097 Lisle-Morton Arboretum NWS 41° 48' 46"

R54 415356087575000 Elmhurst Quarry at Elmhurst, IL USGS 41°53 ́56 ̋

R55 415037087581700 Oak Brook Well at Oak Brook, IL USGS 41°50 ́37 ̋

R56 414843088042500 Morton Arboretum Near Lisle, IL USGS 41°48 ́43 ̋

R57 414747087582700 Westmont Water Department at Westmont, IL USGS 41°47 ́47 ̋

R56 414843088042500 Morton Arboretum Near Lisle, IL USGS 41°48 ́43 ̋

R57 414747087582700 Westmont Water Department at Westmont, IL USGS 41°47 ́47 ̋

R58 414655088102300 Naperville N Operations Center at Naperville, IL USGS 41°46 ́55 ̋

R59 116281 Oak Brook 2W NWS 41° 50' 32"

R60 414430088035600 Woodridge WWTF at Woodridge, IL USGS 41°44 ́30 ̋

R61 414411087575000 Marienbrook WWTF at Darien, IL USGS 41°44 ́11 ̋

R62 05531410 Salt Creek at 22nd Street at Oakbrook, IL USGS 41°50 ́51 ̋

R63 414613088091000 Naperville Municipal Building at Naperville, IL USGS 41°46 ́13 ̋

Grundy R64 111420 Channahon Dresden IS NWS 41° 23' 52"

R65 115825 Morris 1 NW NWS 41° 22' 15"

Kane R66 112709 Elburn NWS 41° 52' 27"

R67 117586 St. Charles 7 NW NWS 41° 57' 37"

R68 05551200 Ferson Creek near St. Charles, IL USGS 41°55 ́58 ̋

R69 05551330 Mill Creek near Batavia, IL USGS 41°50 ́45 ̋

R70 112736 Elgin NWS 42° 03' 46"

R71 110338 Aurora NWS 41° 46' 50"

R72 05551675 Blackberry Creek near Montgomery, IL USGS 41°44 ́27 ̋

Kendall R73 116855 Plano NWS 41° 39' 07"

R74 116065 Newark 2 SSE NWS 41° 31' 57"
Storm and Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois 13

Table 1. Rainfall data for a 3-day period at selected rain gages in northeastern Illinois, September 12–14, 2008.—Continued

Longitude

(degrees, 

minutes, 

seconds)

Total 

precipitation 

(inches)

72-hour duration rainfall (inches) for selected annual exceedance probabilities 

computed on the basis of the partial-duration series 1, 2

1.00 0.50 0.20 0.10 0.04 0.02 0.01 0.005 0.002

-88° 51' 55" a

8.11 2.98 3.57 4.42 5.16 6.33 7.41 8.69 10.20 12.70

-88° 46' 32" c5.98 2.99 3.58 4.44 5.21 6.44 7.59 8.97 10.60 13.30

-88° 42' 27" c4.63 2.99 3.59 4.43 5.14 6.23 7.21 8.34 9.66 11.80

-87°59 ́10 ̋ 8.73 2.92 3.51 4.37 5.08 6.12 6.99 7.95 9.01 10.60

-88°05 ́19 ̋ 8.47 2.97 3.58 4.45 5.17 6.25 7.18 8.23 9.40 11.20

-88°09 ́57 ̋ 8.37 2.92 3.51 4.37 5.08 6.12 6.99 7.95 9.01 10.60

-87°58 ́30 ̋ 8.08 2.93 3.53 4.40 5.12 6.19 7.11 8.11 9.24 11.00

-88°08 ́15 ̋ 7.89 3.00 3.61 4.49 5.25 6.39 7.40 8.55 9.87 12.00

-87°57 ́33 ̋ 7.09 2.95 3.55 4.43 5.17 6.27 7.22 8.28 9.47 11.30

-88°05 ́46 ̋ 7.03 3.00 3.61 4.50 5.26 6.43 7.47 8.67 10.10 12.30

-88° 03' 29" c6.86 3.00 3.61 4.51 5.30 6.52 7.64 8.93 10.50 12.90

-88°12 ́14 ̋ 6.80 3.03 3.63 4.53 5.31 6.52 7.61 8.89 10.40 12.80

-88°11 ́06 ̋ 6.69 3.03 3.64 4.53 5.32 6.54 7.64 8.94 10.50 12.90

-88° 04' 22" a6.59 3.01 3.61 4.52 5.31 6.55 7.68 9.01 10.60 13.10

-87°57 ́50 ̋ 6.57 2.94 3.54 4.42 5.15 6.24 7.18 8.22 9.38 11.20

-87°58 ́17 ̋ 6.19 2.97 3.57 4.47 5.22 6.37 7.36 8.50 9.78 11.80

-88°04 ́25 ̋ 6.08 3.01 3.61 4.52 5.31 6.55 7.68 9.01 10.60 13.10

-87°58 ́27 ̋ 6.06 2.98 3.59 4.49 5.26 6.44 7.48 8.67 10.00 12.20

-88°04 ́25 ̋ 6.08 3.01 3.61 4.52 5.31 6.55 7.68 9.01 10.60 13.10

-87°58 ́27 ̋ 6.06 2.98 3.59 4.49 5.26 6.44 7.48 8.67 10.00 12.20

-88°10 ́23 ̋ 5.99 3.03 3.63 4.53 5.33 6.57 7.71 9.05 10.60 13.20

-87° 58' 23" a5.88 2.97 3.58 4.47 5.23 6.38 7.39 8.53 9.84 11.90

-88°03 ́56 ̋ 5.75 2.99 3.60 4.50 5.29 6.53 7.66 8.97 10.50 13.10

-87°57 ́50 ̋ 5.60 2.98 3.58 4.48 5.26 6.44 7.49 8.69 10.10 12.30

-87°56 ́12 ̋ 5.30 2.96 3.56 4.45 5.20 6.31 7.27 8.35 9.56 11.40

-88°09 ́10 ̋ 4.82 3.02 3.62 4.53 5.32 6.56 7.70 9.04 10.60 13.20

-88° 16' 55" d6.89 2.99 3.58 4.41 5.13 6.27 7.31 8.52 9.95 12.20

-88° 26' 01" a5.75 2.95 3.54 4.34 5.03 6.11 7.08 8.22 9.55 11.70

-88° 28' 22" d10.51 3.04 3.65 4.53 5.30 6.52 7.64 8.96 10.50 13.10

-88° 25' 22" c9.46 3.02 3.63 4.49 5.23 6.37 7.38 8.55 9.90 12.10

-88°20 ́27 ̋ 8.74 3.02 3.63 4.50 5.25 6.39 7.41 8.59 9.96 12.20

-88°20 ́57 ̋ 7.72 3.06 3.67 4.57 5.37 6.65 7.82 9.22 10.90 13.70

-88° 17' 10" c7.08 3.01 3.61 4.45 5.12 6.07 6.86 7.71 8.63 10.00

-88° 18' 33" c7.06 3.06 3.67 4.58 5.40 6.72 7.96 9.44 11.20 14.20

-88°23 ́00 ̋ 6.26 3.06 3.67 4.57 5.38 6.69 7.93 9.41 11.20 14.20

-88° 31' 45" c6.63 3.00 3.60 4.46 5.24 6.49 7.66 9.07 10.80 13.60

-88° 33' 13" c6.21 2.99 3.58 4.41 5.15 6.33 7.42 8.71 10.30 12.80
14 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois

Table 1. Rainfall data for a 3-day period at selected rain gages in northeastern Illinois, September 12–14, 2008.—Continued

County

Map 

reference

 number 

(fig. 3)

Agency 

station number Agency station name Reporting agency

Latitude

(degrees, 

minutes, 

seconds)

La Salle R75 115562 Mendota 2 SE NWS 41° 31' 46"

R76 112510 Earlville 3 S NWS 41° 33' 05"

R77 116753 Peru NWS 41° 21' 01"

R78 115372 Marseilles Lock NWS 41° 19' 43"

R79 116526 Ottawa 5SW NWS 41° 19' 42"

Lake R80 5528000 Des Plaines River near Gurnee, IL USGS 42°20 ́38 ̋

R81 115961 Mundelein 4WSW NWS 42° 15' 19"

McHenry R82 112048 Crystal Lake 4 NW NWS 42° 15' 40"

R83 115493 McHenry Stratton L&D NWS 42° 18' 37"

R84 119480 Woodstock 5 NW NWS 42° 21' 46"

R85 118192 Spring Grove NWS 42° 28' 04"

R86 5548280 Nippersink Creek near Spring Grove, IL USGS 42°26 ́36 ̋

R87 113902 Harvard NWS 42° 24' 53"

R88 422834088255800 Rain Gage at Hebron, IL USGS 42°28 ́34 ̋

Will R89 116725 Peotone NWS 41° 19' 37"

R90 115763 Monee Reservoir NWS 41° 23' 36"

R91 412657087372001 Rain Gage at Crete, IL USGS 41°26 ́57 ̋

R92 114530 Joliet Brandon RD DAM NWS 41° 30' 12"

R93 117457 Romeoville WFO NWS 41° 36' 16"

R94 116849 Plainfield 3 NE NWS 41° 38' 19"

R95 414306088042100 Bolingbrook WWTF at Bolingbrook, IL USGS 41°43 ́06 ̋

1

The annual exceedance probability (AEP) is the probability that a given event will be exceeded or equaled in any given year. For example, the AEP of 

the 100-year rainfall is 0.01. In other words, there is a 1-percent chance that the rainfall would be exceeded or equaled in any given year.

2

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2011).

a

Daily rainfall recorded at 8 a.m.

b

Includes estimated data based on distance weighted linear interpolation (Westcott, 2008). 

c

Daily rainfall recorded at 7 a.m.

d

Daily rainfall recorded at 6 a.m.
Storm and Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois 15

Table 1. Rainfall data for a 3-day period at selected rain gages in northeastern Illinois, September 12–14, 2008.—Continued

Longitude

(degrees, 

minutes, 

seconds)

Total 

precipitation 

(inches)

72-hour duration rainfall (inches) for selected annual exceedance probabilities 

computed on the basis of the partial-duration series 1, 2

1.00 0.50 0.20 0.10 0.04 0.02 0.01 0.005 0.002

-89° 07' 36" c

6.39 3.02 3.62 4.45 5.14 6.16 7.04 8.01 9.10 10.80

-88° 54' 53" d6.10 3.00 3.60 4.42 5.12 6.20 7.16 8.26 9.53 11.50

-89° 06' 26" c5.46 3.02 3.62 4.45 5.13 6.10 6.90 7.76 8.69 10.00

-88° 45' 12" d4.66 3.03 3.62 4.44 5.12 6.16 7.08 8.11 9.30 11.10

-88° 54' 38" a4.08 3.01 3.61 4.42 5.10 6.12 7.01 8.01 9.14 10.90

-87°56 ́28 ̋ 5.38 2.72 3.26 3.99 4.55 5.32 5.91 6.51 7.11 7.91

-88° 04' 37" c5.13 2.86 3.43 4.22 4.83 5.68 6.35 7.05 7.77 8.77

-88° 23' 43" c5.99 2.97 3.56 4.37 5.01 5.90 6.62 7.38 8.18 9.33

-88° 15' 09" a5.38 2.96 3.54 4.34 4.99 5.90 6.66 7.47 8.36 9.65

-88° 31' 53" c

3.75 2.97 3.56 4.36 4.98 5.83 6.52 7.22 7.96 8.99

-88° 14' 14" c3.06 2.91 3.49 4.27 4.87 5.67 6.29 6.92 7.55 8.41

-88°14 ́51 ̋ 3.03 2.92 3.50 4.28 4.88 5.69 6.32 6.96 7.60 8.47

-88° 37' 51" c2.45 2.94 3.53 4.32 4.93 5.78 6.46 7.17 7.91 8.94

-88°25 ́58 ̋ 2.39 2.95 3.54 4.33 4.93 5.75 6.39 7.04 7.70 8.59

-87° 47' 09" c8.68 3.15 3.80 4.74 5.53 6.68 7.65 8.71 9.88 11.60

-87° 45' 54" a8.59 3.12 3.76 4.70 5.48 6.62 7.59 8.64 9.81 11.60

-87°37 ́20 ̋ 7.44 3.07 3.70 4.62 5.37 6.46 7.36 8.32 9.34 10.90

-88° 06' 10" d6.93 2.94 3.53 4.41 5.19 6.44 7.61 8.99 10.70 13.40

-88° 05' 09" 6.12 2.96 3.56 4.44 5.22 6.44 7.56 8.86 10.40 12.90

-88° 11' 17" c6.11 2.99 3.58 4.47 5.25 6.49 7.63 8.98 10.60 13.20

-88°04 ́21 ̋ 5.92 2.99 3.59 4.49 5.28 6.52 7.64 8.94 10.50 13.00
16 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois Table 2. Flood-peak gage height, peak discharge, and annual exceedance probability of peak discharge (as published by Holmes and others, 2010) during the flood of September 2008 at selected U.S. Geological Survey streamgages in northeastern Illinois. [mi2, square mile; ft, foot; ft3/s, cubic foot per second; AEP, annual exceedance probability; IL, Illinois; >, greater than] Station number Station name Drainage area (mi2) Previous maximun streamflow Rank Annual peaks Flood of September 2008 AEP (Holmes and others, 2010) Date Stage (ft) Discharge (ft3/s) Date Stage (ft) Discharge (ft3/s) 05439000 SOUTH BRANCH KISHWAUKEE RIVER AT DEKALB, IL 77.7 08/2007 13.60 3,020 5 37 9/14/2008 11.30 a2,030 05529000 DES PLAINES RIVER NEAR DES PLAINES, IL 360 10/1986 10.88 4,900 14 69 9/14/2008 10.00 a3,010 10 05530990 SALT CREEK AT ROLLING MEADOWS, IL 30.5 08/1987 14.03 1,650 1 35 9/13/2008 12.99 a2,510 >.2 05531300 SALT CREEK AT ELMHURST, IL 91.47 08/1972 7.27 2,230 2 45 9/14/2008 13.27 a1,940 05531500 SALT CREEK AT WESTERN SPRINGS, IL 115 08/1987 10.54 3,540 2 63 9/14/2008 9.92 a2,890 05532500 DES PLAINES RIVER AT RIVERSIDE, IL 630 08/1987 9.90 9,770 2 95 9/14/2008 9.87 a9,560 0.2-1 05536000 NORTH BRANCH CHICAGO RIVER AT NILES, IL 100 08/1987 11.35 2,590 1 58 9/13/2008 12.13 a3,340 .2-1 05536105 NORTH BRANCH CHICAGO RIVER AT ALBANY AVENUE AT CHICAGO, IL 113 02/1997 6.81 2,360 1 18 9/14/2008 7.86 a3,580 05536235 DEER CREEK NEAR CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL 23.1 08/2007 12.37 1,320 1 61 9/15/2008 12.87 a,b1,320 05536275 THORN CREEK AT THORNTON, IL 104 04/2006 15.10 5,540 1 62 9/14/2008 15.89 a5,860 1-2 05539900 WEST BRANCH DU PAGE RIVER NR WEST CHICAGO, IL 28.5 08/2007 10.35 1,040 1 48 9/13/2008 12.28 a1,840 .2-1

05540060 KRESS CREEK AT WEST CHICAGO, IL 18.1 07/1996 9.24 1,980 1 50 9/14/2008 9.37 a2,100 1-205540095 WEST BRANCH DU PAGE RIVER NEAR WARRENVILLE, IL 90.4 07/1996 6.41 3,470 1 40 9/14/2008 8.03 a4,930 1-205540130 WEST BRANCH DU PAGE RIVER NEAR NAPERVILLE, IL 123 07/1996 14.31 6,620 2 20 9/14/2008 11.98 a4,160 4-1005540160 EAST BRANCH DU PAGE RIVER NEAR DOWNERS GROVE, IL 26.6 08/1972 16.94 1,720 3 35 9/14/2008 17.26 a1,190 4-1005540250 EAST BRANCH DU PAGE RIVER AT BOLINGBROOK, IL 75.8 07/1996 23.75 3,980 2 20 9/14/2008 24.01 a2,410 4-1005540500 DU PAGE RIVER AT SHOREWOOD, IL 324 07/1996 14.03 17,300 4 68 9/15/2008 9.94 a9,440 4-1005543500 ILLINOIS RIVER AT MARSEILLES, IL 8,259 01/1916 35.40 d40,000 2 112 9/16/2008 28.13 c104,000

05550300 TYLER CREEK AT ELGIN, IL 38.9 08/2002 8.26 1,650 3 28 9/13/2008 8.53 a1,250 >10

05550500 POPLAR CREEK AT ELGIN, IL 35.2 02/1997 6.78 1,180 1 57 9/13/2008 7.69 a1,560 2-405551200 FERSON CREEK NEAR ST. CHARLES, IL 51.7 02/1997 8.77 2,580 1 48 9/13/2008 8.96 a2,980 1-205551330 MILL CREEK NEAR BATAVIA, IL 27.62 04/1999 7.52 1,080 1 11 9/13/2008 9.48 a4,510

05551540 FOX RIVER AT MONTGOMERY, IL 1,732 08/2007 14.69 13,800 1 6 9/14/2008 15.12 a18,00005551675 BLACKBERRY CREEK NEAR MONTGOMERY, IL 54.97 04/1999 8.61 1,040 1 11 9/14/2008 10.69 a1,74005551700 BLACKBERRY CREEK NEAR YORKVILLE, IL 70.2 07/1996 13.16 5,510 2 48 9/15/2008 9.94 a2,130 >10

aAll or part of the record affected by urbanization.bDischarge affected to unknown degree by regulation or diversion.cDischarge affected by regulation or diversion.dDischarge owing to snowmelt, hurricane, ice-jam, or debris-dam breakup.
This page has been left blank intentionally.
18 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois

Table 3. List of communities, by stream reach, and approximate number of miles where high-water marks were 

set for the September 13–16, 2008, flood in northeastern Illinois.

[̰~, approximately]

Table 3. List of communities, by stream reach, and approximate number of miles where

high-water marks were set for the September 13-16, 2008 flood in northeastern Illinois.

[~, approximately]

Stream Stream miles Community County

Addison Creek ~6.5 Northlake Cook

Stone Park Cook

Bellwood Cook

Broadview Cook

Des Plaines River ~28.0 Northbrook Cook

Prospect Heights Cook

Glenview Cook

Mount Prospect Cook

Des Plaines Cook

Park Ridge Cook

Rosemont Cook

Schiller Park Cook

Franklin Park Cook

River Grove Cook

Melrose Park Cook

River Forest Cook

Maywood Cook

Oak Park Cook

Forest Park Cook

Riverside Cook

Lyons Cook

DuPage River ~27.0 Naperville DuPage/Will

Bolingbrook Will

Plainfield Will

Joliet Will

Shorewood Will

Minooka Will

Channahon Will

East Branch DuPage River ~5.5 Woodridge DuPage

Naperville DuPage/Will

Bolingbrook Will

Illinois River ~6.0 Morris Grundy

Johnny Run ~4.0 Mazon Grundy
Storm and Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois 19

Table 3. List of communities, by stream reach, and approximate number of miles where high-water marks were 

set for the September 13–16, 2008, flood in northeastern Illinois.—Continued Table 3. List of communities, by stream reach, and approximate number of miles where

high-water marks were set for the September 13-16, 2008 flood in northeastern Illinois.

[~, approximately]

Stream Stream miles Community County

Addison Creek ~6.5 Northlake Cook

Stone Park Cook

Bellwood Cook

Broadview Cook

Des Plaines River ~28.0 Northbrook Cook

Prospect Heights Cook

Glenview Cook

Mount Prospect Cook

Des Plaines Cook

Park Ridge Cook

Rosemont Cook

Schiller Park Cook

Franklin Park Cook

River Grove Cook

Melrose Park Cook

River Forest Cook

Maywood Cook

Oak Park Cook

Forest Park Cook

Riverside Cook

Lyons Cook

DuPage River ~27.0 Naperville DuPage/Will

Bolingbrook Will

Plainfield Will

Joliet Will

Shorewood Will

Minooka Will

Channahon Will

East Branch DuPage River ~5.5 Woodridge DuPage

Naperville DuPage/Will

Bolingbrook Will

Illinois River ~6.0 Morris Grundy

Johnny Run ~4.0 Mazon Grundy

Little Calumet River ~8.0 Harvey Cook

South Holland Cook

Thorton Cook

Calumet City Cook

Lansing Cook

North Branch Chicago River ~8.5 Niles Cook

Old Edgebrook Cook

South Edgebrook Cook

Albany Park Cook

Poplar Creek ~1.5 Elgin Cook/Kane

Salt Creek ~3.0 Brookfield Cook

Lyons Cook

South Branch Kishwaukee ~12.5 Genoa DeKalb

Sycamore DeKalb

DeKalb DeKalb

West Branch DuPage River ~21.0 Roselle DuPage

Hanover Park DuPage

Carol Stream DuPage

West Chicago DuPage

Winfield DuPage

Warrenville DuPage

Naperville DuPage/Will

Total stream miles ~131.5
20 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois 

High-Water

 Mark

High-Water

 Mark

High-Water

 Mark

High-Water

 Mark

High-Water

 Mark

High-Water

 Mark

A B

C D

E F

Figure 5. Photographs of selected high-water marks in October 2008: (A) Paint blaze on streetlight, Des Plaines River at Lake Street, 

River Forest, Illinois; (B) Floodmark disk and flagging on tree, Poplar Creek at Hammond Avenue, Elgin, Ill.; (C) Paint blaze on sign post, 

Des Plaines River at Robinson Avenue, Franklin Park, Ill.; (D) Paint blaze on bridge support, Des Plaines River at Golf Road, Des Plaines, 

Ill.; (E) Paint blaze and flagging on metal pole, North Branch Chicago River in an alley between North Springfield Avenue and North 

Avers Avenue, Albany Park, Ill.; and (F) Paint blaze on guard rail, North Branch Chicago River at North Bernard Street, Albany Park, Ill.

Figure 5. Selected high-water marks in October 2008. A, Paint blaze on streetlight, Des Plaines River at Lake Street, River Forest, 

Illinois (Ill.). B, Floodmark disk and flagging on tree, Poplar Creek at Hammond Avenue, Elgin, Ill. C, Paint blaze on sign post, Des Plaines 

River at Robinson Avenue, Franklin Park, Ill. D, Paint blaze on bridge support, Des Plaines River at Golf Road, Des Plaines, Ill. E, Paint 

blaze and flagging on metal pole, North Branch Chicago River in an alley between North Springfield Avenue and North Avers Avenue, 

Albany Park, Ill. F, Paint blaze on guard rail, North Branch Chicago River at North Bernard Street, Albany Park, Ill.
Storm and Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois 21

A B

Figure 6. Photographs of the Elmhurst Quarry Flood Control Facility, DuPage County, Illinois (A) full of water on September 16, 2008, and 

(B) dry on May 31, 2011. Photograph A was taken by Jon E. Hortness, U.S. Geological Survey, and photograph B by David J. Fazio. Figure 6. Elmhurst Quarry Flood Control Facility, DuPage County, Illinois. A, full of water on September 16, 2008. B, dry on May 31, 

2011.

Figure 7. Passenger jet taxiing to a terminal at O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, September 14, 2008. Photograph used with 

Figure 7. permission of David Lastrucci, ALPI U.S.A. Inc. Passenger jet taxiing to a terminal at O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, September 14, 2008.
22 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois

Table 4. Counties eligible for individual disaster assistance approved by the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency and ranked by dollar amount. 

[Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2008b]

1

Table 4. Counties eligible for individual disaster assistance approved by the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency and ranked by dollar amount. 

 [Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2008b] 

Rank County Number of 

households 

Dollar 

amount 

Households 

(in percent) 

Dollar amount 

(in percent) 

1 Cook 23,595 $47,022,881 89.3 86.5 

2 DuPage 782 $2,328,929 3.0 4.3 

3 Will 596 $1,161,786 2.3 2.1 

4 Peoria1

 634 $1,036,988 2.4 1.9 

5 Kane 325 $948,509 1.2 1.7 

6 La Salle 164 $913,741 .6 1.7 

7 DeKalb 153 $473,075 .6 .9 

8 Woodford1

 97 $244,233 .4 .4 

9 Grundy 62 $219,684 .2 .4 

 

Total 26,408 $54,349,826 

1

Outside of the study area. 

Summary

Major flooding occurred in northeastern Illinois 

during September 13–16, 2008, following a combination of 

severe storms throughout the Midwest. The floods caused 

millions of dollars’ worth of damage to homes, businesses, 

and infrastructures and two water-related fatalities in the 

greater Chicago area. Rainfall totals ranged from 2.39 inches 

in Hebron, Illinois (Ill.), to 10.51 inches in Elburn, Ill., 

throughout a 51-hour period during September 12–14, 2008. 

U.S. Geological Survey streamgages recorded new recordpeak streamflows at 13 locations as a result of the heavy 

rainfall. Four gages had a calculated annual exceedance 

probability (AEP) ranging from 0.2 to 1 percent, and one gage 

had a calculated AEP of less than 0.2 percent. High-water 

marks along select streams were depicted in flood-peak watersurface profiles. The combined length of the profiles exceeds 

100 river miles. 

References Cited

Benson, M.A., and Dalrymple, Tate, 1967, General field 

and office procedures for indirect measurements: 

U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources 

Investigations, book 3, chap. A1, 30 p. 

Berg, Robbie, 2008, Tropical Cyclone Report, Tropical Storm 

Lowell (EP132008), 6–11 September 2008, accessed May 

19, 2011, at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-EP132008_

Lowell.pdf.

Berg, Robbie, 2009, Tropical Cyclone Report, Hurricane 

Ike (AL092008), 1–14 September 2008, accessed May 9, 

2011, at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL092008_

Ike_3May10.pdf.

Beven, J.L., II, and Kimberlain, T.B., 2008, Tropical 

Cyclone Report, Hurricane Gustav (AL072008), 

25 August–4 September 2008, accessed May 9, 2011, at 

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL072008_Gustav.pdf. 

Changnon, S.A., 2010, Stormwater management for a record 

rainstorm at Chicago: Journal of Contemporary Water 

Research & Education, v. 146, no. 1, p. 103–109. 

Chicago Tribune, 2008, Storm forces Brookfield Zoo to close 

for first time since opening in 1934, accessed July 18, 

2011, at http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-09-16/

news/0809160158_1_brookfield-zoo-small-mammalsfragile-kingdom.

Dictionary.com, 2011, cold front, in The American Heritage 

Science Dictionary, Houghton Mifflin Company, accessed 

July 2, 2011, at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cold 

front.

Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2003, Guidelines 

and specifications for flood hazard mapping partners, 

appendix A—Guidance for aerial mapping and surveying.

Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2007, Managing 

floodplain development through the NFIP: FEMA 

Publication Number IS–9, 527 p.
References Cited 23

Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2008a, Nine 

counties eligible for federal disaster help, Release Number 

1800–036, accessed May 23, 2011, at http://www.fema.gov/

news/newsrelease.fema?id=46830.

Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2008b, Disaster 

assistance for Illinois residents reaches $69 Million, Release 

Number 1800–048, accessed May 23, 2011, at http://www.

fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=47151. 

Hodgkins, G.A., Stewart, G.J., Cohn, T.A., and Dudley, R.W., 

2007, Estimated magnitudes and recurrence intervals of 

peak flows on the Mousam and Little Ossipee Rivers for 

the flood of April 2007 in southern Maine: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 2007–1146, 5 p., accessed 

July 16, 2011, at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1146/.

Holmes, R.R., Jr., Koenig, T.A., and Karstensen, K.A., 

2010, Flooding in the United States Midwest, 2008: 

U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1775, 64 p., 

accessed August 29, 2011, at http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1775/.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources–Office of Water 

Resources, 2008, Flood surveillance report, northeastern 

Illinois, September 13–15, 2008: Springfield, Ill., Illinois 

Department of Natural Resources, Office of Water 

Resources, 117 p.

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, 2009, Annual 

facility inspection report—NPDES permit for storm water 

discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems 

(MS4)—March 2008 to March 2009 reporting period, 77 p., 

accessed November 22, 2011, at http://www.dupageco.org/

EDP/Stormwater_Management/Docs/Reports/18211/.

Illinois State Water Survey, 2008a, Wet weather challenges 

the 2008 growing season, accessed July 16, 2011, at http://

www.isws.illinois.edu/hilites/press/080729wetwx.asp.

Illinois State Water Survey, 2008b, Cool, dry August for 

Illinois, accessed July 16, 2011, at http://www.isws.illinois.

edu/atmos/statecli/2008/August2008.htm.

Illinois State Water Survey, 2008c, Heavy rains in Illinois, 

September 2008, accessed May 9, 2011, at http://www.isws.

illinois.edu/atmos/statecli/2008/September2008/tropical.

htm.

Langbein, W.B., and Iseri, K.T., 1960, General introduction 

and hydrologic definitions—Manual of hydrology—Part 1, 

General surface-water techniques: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Supply Paper 1541–A, accessed July 2, 2011, at 

http://water.usgs.gov/wsc/glossary.html.

Lumia, Richard, Burke, P.M., and Johnston, W.H., 1987, 

Flooding of December 29, 1984 through January 2, 1985, 

in northern New York State, with flood profiles of the 

Black and Salmon rivers: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 86–4191, 53 p., accessed 

August 29, 2011, at http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/1986/4191/

report.pdf. 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2008, 

Storm data and unusual weather phenomena—September 

2008, 9 p., accessed July 13, 2011, at http://www.crh.noaa.

gov/Image/lot/stormdata/sep2008.pdf.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2011, 

National Weather Service Hydrometeorological Design 

Studies Center Precipitation Frequency Data Server 

(PFDS), NOAA atlas 14 point precipitation frequency 

estimates, accessed May 23, 2011, at http://hdsc.nws.noaa.

gov/hdsc/pfds/pfds_map_cont.html?bkmrk=il.

National Weather Service, 2009, National Weather Service 

glossary, accessed July 2, 2011, at http://www.weather.gov/

glossary/.

Westcott, N.E., 2008, Operation of the Cook County 

Precipitation Network—Monthly progress report for 

September 2008: Champaign, Ill., Illinois State Water 

Survey, University of Illinoi at Urbana–Champaign, 4 p.
Glossary

The following definitions, except where noted, are from 

Langbein and Iseri (1960).

A

acre-foot A unit for measuring the volume of water equal 

to the quantity of water required to cover 1 acre to a depth of 

1 foot and is equal to 43,560 cubic feet or 325,851 gallons. 

The term is commonly used in measuring volumes of water 

used or stored.

annual exceedance probability The probability that a given 

event magnitude will be exceeded or equaled in any given 

year. For example, the annual exceedance probability of the 

50-year peak-flood streamflow is 0.02. In other words, there is 

a 2-percent chance that the 50-year peak flow will be exceeded 

or equaled in any given year (Hodgkins and others, 2007). 

The reciprocal of the annual exceedance probability is the 

recurrence interval.

C

cold front The zone separating two air masses, with the 

cooler, denser air mass advancing and replacing the warmer 

air mass. Cold fronts often cause precipitation as water vapor 

in the rising warm air condenses and forms clouds. The cloud 

formation can result in heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail, or 

snow (Dictionary.com, 2011).

cubic feet per second A unit expressing discharge as a 

volume per unit of time. For example 1 cubic foot per second 

is equal to the discharge of a stream of 1 square foot in area 

passing a point with an average velocity of 1 foot per second. 

D

discharge In hydrologic terms, the rate at which water 

passes a given point. Discharge is expressed in a volume per 

time with units of cubic feet per second. Discharge often is 

used interchangeably with streamflow (National Weather 

Service, 2009). 

drainage basin A part of the surface of the earth that is 

occupied by a drainage system, which consists of a surface 

stream or a body of impounded surface water together 

with all tributary surface streams and bodies of impounded 

surface water.

E

extratropical A term used in advisories and tropical 

summaries to indicate that a cyclone has lost its “tropical” 

characteristics. The term implies both poleward displacement 

of the cyclone and the conversion of the cyclone’s primary 

energy source from the release of latent heat of condensation 

to baroclinic (the temperature contrast between warm and cold 

air masses) processes. It is important to note that cyclones 

can become extratropical and still retain winds of hurricane or 

tropical storm force (National Weather Service, 2009).

F

flood Any high flow, overflow, or inundation by water that 

causes or threatens damage (National Weather Service, 2009).

flood peak The highest value of the stage or discharge 

attained by a flood; thus, peak stage or peak discharge. Flood 

crest has nearly the same meaning, but because it connotes the 

top of the flood wave, it is properly used only in referring to 

stage—thus, crest stage, but not crest discharge. 

front A boundary or transition zone between two air 

masses of different density, and thus (usually) of different 

temperature. A moving front is named according to the 

advancing air mass; for example, cold front if colder air is 

advancing (National Weather Service, 2009).

G

gage height The water-surface elevation referred to 

some arbitrary gage datum. Gage height often is used 

interchangeably with the more general term stage, although 

gage height is more appropriate when used with a reading on 

a streamgage.

R 

river mile The curvilinear distance, in miles, measured 

upstream from the mouth along the meandering path of a 

stream channel in accordance with Bulletin No. 14 (October 

1968) of the Water Resources Council and typically is used to 

denote location along a river.

riverine flood Excess flows over the banks of a natural 

channel such as a river, creek, stream, or ditch (Federal 

Emergency Management Agency, 2007).

S

stream A general term for a body of flowing water. In 

hydrology, the term generally is applied to the water flowing 

in a natural channel as distinct from a canal.

streamflow The discharge that occurs in a natural channel. 

Although the term discharge can be applied to the flow of a 

canal, the word streamflow uniquely describes the discharge in 

a surface-stream course.

streamgage A gaging station where a record of discharge of 

a stream is obtained. Within the U.S. Geological Survey, this 

term is used only for those gaging stations where a continuous 

record of gage height is obtained.

T

tropical depression A tropical cyclone in which the 

maximum 1-minute sustained surface wind is 33 knots 

(38 miles per hour) or less (National Weather Service, 2009).

U

urban drainage flood Excess flows over the banks of manmade ditches, retention ponds, and other facilities constructed 

to store runoff or carry it to a receiving stream or lake (Federal 

Emergency Management Agency, 2007).
Appendix 25

Appendixes 1–3

Appendix 1. High-Water Mark Site Description and 

Elevation at Select Stream Reaches, Flood of September 

2008, Northeastern Illinois

Appendix 2. Example High-Water Mark Documentation 

Field Sheet, Flood of September 2008, Northeastern Illinois

Appendix 3. Flood-Peak Water-Surface Profiles at Select 

Stream Reaches, Flood of September 2008, Northeastern 

Illinois
26 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois Appendix 1. High-Water Mark Site Description and Elevation at Select Stream Reaches, Flood of September 2008, Northeastern Illinois. [Vertical coordinate data are referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88); horizontal coordinate data are referenced to the North American Datum of 1983; approximate quantitative indications of accuracy of high-water mark ratings: excellent, + 0.02 foot; good, + 0.05 foot; fair, + 0.10 foot; and poor, > 0.10 foot (Lumia and others, 1987); for the bank designation, "right" and "left" refer to an observation looking in the downstream direction of the watercourse; NR, not recovered; ft, feet; ° ′ ′′, degrees, minutes, seconds; ~, approximately; R+R, railroad] County Street reference High-water mark description High-water mark type High-water mark rating Elevation (ft above NAVD 88) Latitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) Longitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) North Branch Chicago River Cook Howard Street Paint 3.0 ft up the downstream side of Howard St. bridge on the right bank seed line/ debris line excellent 42° 01′ 08.4′′ -87° 47′ 45.6′′ Cook Howard Street A flood mark disc 3.5 ft up a fence post 60 ft downstream of Howard St. on the right bank next to a parking lot seed line/ debris line fair 42° 01′ 07.77′′ -87° 47′ 46.5′′ Cook Harts Road A flood mark disc 2.0 ft up a tree 10 ft downstream of Harts Rd. and 14 posts off the left bank mud line good 42° 00′ 34.3′′ -87° 47′ 47.1′′ Cook Harts Road Paint 2.0 ft up the side of an equipment housing upstream of Harts Rd. bridge on the left bank 3 ft west of Riverside Rd. mud line excellent 612.46 42° 00′ 36.7′′ -87° 47′ 45.8′′ Cook Harts Road Paint 0.4 ft up a no parking sign 2 ft upstream of Harts Rd. on the left bank across Riverside Rd. mud line good 42° 00′ 36.4′′ -87° 47′ 43.0′′ Cook Clayton Smith Woods Preserve A flood mark disc 6.5 ft up a tree 560 ft downstream of the pedestrian path on the right bank near a pool seed line/ debris line 41° 59′ 55.7′′ -87° 47′ 00.32′′

Cook Clayton Smith 

Woods Preserve 

A flood mark disc 2.5 ft up a tree 20 ft downstream of the pedestrian bridge 

on the left bank

seed line/debris line

fair 608.75 40° 00′ 00.5′′ -87° 47′ 03.7′′

Cook Clayton Smith 

Woods Preserve

Paint 7.0 ft up the downstream side of the pedestrian bridge on the right bank seed line/

debris line

good 41° 59′ 59.9′′ -87° 47′ 03.9′′

Cook Clayton Smith 

Woods Preserve 

Paint 6.0 ft up the downstream side of the pedestrian bridge on the left bank seed line/

debris line

good 42° 00′ 00.9′′ -87° 47′ 03.9′′

Cook West Devon Avenue A mark 1.0 ft up an abutment 4 ft downstream of W. Devon Ave. bridge on 

the left bank

seed line/debris line

good 41° 54′ 50.4′′ -87° 46′ 47.2′′

Cook West Devon Avenue A flood mark disc 3.0 ft up a tree 15 ft downstream of W. Devon Ave. bridge 

on the left bank

seed line/debris line

fair 41° 54′ 50.1′′ -87° 46′ 47.0′′

Cook North Central 

Avenue

Paint 6.5 ft up a fence post 1,000 ft downstream of N. Central Ave. on the 

right bank near a pavillion

seed line/debris line

good 603.42 41° 59′ 19.77′′ -87° 45′ 45.91′′

Cook North Central 

Avenue

Paint 3.0 ft up the downstream side of N. Central Ave. bridge on the right 

bank

seed line/debris line

fair 603.76 41° 59′ 23.63′′ -87° 45′ 57.76′′

Cook Forest Glen Avenue Paint 2.0 ft up the downstream side of Forest Glen Ave. bridge on the right 

bank

seed line/debris line

excellent 602.05 41° 58′ 54.4′′ -87° 45′ 05.4′′

Cook Cicero Avenue Paint 2.0 ft up the Cicero Ave. bridge wingwall downstream of the bridge on 

the right bank

mud line good 41° 58′ 57.8′′ -87° 44′ 48.8′′

Cook Cicero Avenue A flood mark disc 4.5 ft up a tree 20 ft downstream of Cicero Ave. bridge on 

the right bank

mud line fair 600.94 41° 59′ 00.3′′ -87° 44′ 53.0′′

Cook Foster Avenue/R+R 

Bridge

A flood mark disc on a tree 20 ft downstream of the R+R bridge on the right 

bank

seed line/debris line

good 600.37 41° 58′ 41.0′′ -87° 44′ 26.7′′
Appendix 1 27

Appendix 1. High-Water Mark Site Description and Elevation at Select Stream Reaches, Flood of September 2008, Northeastern Illinois.—Continued

County Street reference High-water mark description High-water mark type High-water mark rating Elevation (ft above NAVD 88) Latitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) Longitude (degrees, minutes, seconds)

Cook Foster Avenue/

Kostner

Paint on a metal post on the right bank north of Foster (further east) seed line good 600.30 41° 58′ 34.8′′ -87° 44′ 10.8′′

Cook Foster Avenue/

Kostner

Paint on a metal post on the right bank north of Kostner (further east) seed line good 41° 58′ 34.9′′ -87° 44′ 15.8′′

Cook Foster Avenue/

Kostner

Paint on a metal post on the right bank north of Kostner (further west) seed line good 600.20 41° 58′ 35.0′′ -87° 44′ 16.6′′

Cook Foster Avenue/

Pulaski

A flood mark disc 4.5 ft up a Chicago park district sign 110 ft upstream of 

Pulaski on the right bank across a foot path

seed line/debris line

good 41° 58′ 28.6′′ -87° 43′ 43.2′′

Cook Foster Avenue/

Pulaski

A flood mark disc 4.5 ft up a tree 80 ft downstream of Pulaski bridge on the 

left bank

mud line fair 598.31 41° 58′ 31.3′′ -87° 43′ 47.2′′

Cook Foster Avenue Paint on the upstream side of Foster Ave. bridge on the left bank seed line/

debris line

excellent 41° 58′ 31.6′′ -87° 43′ 39.4′′

Cook Foster Avenue A flood mark disc on a tree 10 ft upsream of Foster Ave. brdige on the left 

bank

seed line good 598.04 41° 58′ 31.5′′ -87° 43′ 39.4′′

Cook Foster Avenue/

Springfield

Paint on a metal post on the right bank across Foster Ave. and west of 

Springfield

seed line/debris line

good 597.19 41° 58′ 30.3′′ -87° 43′ 31.4′′

Cook Foster Avenue/

Springfield

Paint on a mail box on the right bank across Foster Ave. on a road inbetween 

Springfield and Ayers

mud line fair 41° 58′ 31.7′′ -87° 43′ 33.2′′

Cook Foster Avenue/Ayers Paint 2.5 ft up the upstream side of Foster Ave. bridge on the right bank seed line/

debris line

good 597.05 41° 58′ 32.6′′ -87° 43′ 28.1′′

Cook Foster Avenue/Ayers A flood mark disc 1.5 ft up a tree 150 ft downstream of Foster Ave. on the 

right bank across Ayers

mud line fair 596.06 41° 58′ 31.4′′ -87° 43′ 28.6′′

Cook West Foster Avenue/

Ridgeway

Paint on a metal post downstream of a pedestrian bridge off of W. Foster 

Ave. and 410 ft off of the left bank

debris line fair 596.64 41° 58′ 31.2′′ -87° 43′ 16.4′′

Cook West Foster Avenue/

Ridgeway

Paint on a metal post 145 ft downstream of a pedestrian bridge off of W. 

Foster Ave. on the left bank

debris line fair 41° 58′ 28.5′′ -87° 43′ 16.4′′

Cook West Foster Avenue/

Ridgeway

A flood mark disc on a tree 130 ft downstream of a pedestrian bridge off of 

W. Foster Ave. on the left bank

debris line fair 595.50 41° 58′ 28.7′′ -87° 43′ 18.0′′

Cook West Foster Avenue/

Ridgeway

A flood mark disc on a sycamore tree 348 ft upstream of a pedestrian bridge 

off of W. Foster Ave. on the right bank

debris line fair 41° 58′ 28.7′′ -87° 43′ 23.6′′

Cook West Foster Avenue/

Ridgeway

A flood mark disc on a power pole 160 ft upstream of a pedestrian bridge off 

of W. Foster Ave. on the left bank in an alley

seed line/debris line

fair 41° 58′ 27.2′′ -87° 43′ 21.7′′

Cook near Lawndale Paint 2.5 ft up an abutment downstream of a bike bridge on the right bank seed line/

debris line

good 41° 58′ 26.0′′ -87° 43′ 12.2′′

Cook near Lawndale Pencil and a flag 1.0 ft up a fence post 100 ft downstream of a bike bridge on 

the right bank near a road off Lawndale

debris line excellent 41° 58′ 25.0′′ -87° 43′ 12.7′′

Cook Bernard Street Paint 2.0 ft up an I-beam 20 ft downstream of a pedestrian bridge on the right 

bank

seed line/debris line

good 593.40 41° 58′ 18.7′′ -87° 42′ 52.9′′
28 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois Appendix 1. High-Water Mark Site Description and Elevation at Select Stream Reaches, Flood of September 2008, Northeastern Illinois.—Continued County Street reference High-water mark description High-water mark type High-water mark rating Elevation (ft above NAVD 88) Latitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) Longitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) Cook Bernard Street Paint 1.5 ft up an I-beam 25 ft downstream of a pedestrian bridge on the left bank near Bernard St. seed line/ debris line good 41° 58′ 19.4′′ -87° 42′ 52.8′′ Cook Spaulding Avenue/ Kimball Avenue Paint on a concrete retaining wall 35 ft upstream of Kimball Ave. bridge on the left bank seed line/ debris line fair 592.77 41° 58′ 19.5′′ -87° 42′ 49.4′′ Cook Spaulding Avenue/ Kimball Avenue A flood mark disc on a wood retaining wall 350 ft downstream of Kimball Ave. bridge on the left bank debris line excellent 41° 58′ 12.5′′ -87° 42′ 44.0′′ Cook Spaulding Avenue/ Kimball Avenue A flood mark disc on a tree 130 ft upstream of Spaulding Ave. brdige on the left bank debris line fair 41° 58′ 24.2′′ -87° 42′ 41.6′′ Cook Spaulding Avenue/ Kimball Avenue A flood mark disc on a tree 90 ft upstream of Spaulding Ave. bridge on the left bank debris line fair 591.70 41° 58′ 24.5′′ -87° 42′ 41.3′′ Cook Kedzie Paint 6.5 ft up a fence post 3 ft downstream of Kedzie bridge on the right bank debris line poor 589.68 41° 58′ 28.6′′ -87° 42′ 30.8′′ Cook Albany Paint on a stone retaining wall 70 ft downstream of a pedestrian bridge on the right bank mud line fair 41° 58′ 26.8′′ -87° 42′ 21.1′′ Cook Foster Avenue/ Albany Paint on a retaining wall 53 ft downstream of Albany bridge on the right bank debris line excellent 41° 58′ 24.0′′ -87° 42′ 16.6′′

Cook Willow Road Paint ~5.0 ft up the Willow Rd. exit ramp bridge wingwall upstream of the 

bridge on the right bank

seed line excellent 637.05 42° 01′ 09.7′′ -88° 15′ 39.1′′

Cook Milwaukee Avenue Paint 6.5 ft up the Milwaukee Ave. bridge wingwall upstream of the bridge 

on the right bank

seed line good 636.16 42° 06′ 05.9′′ -87° 53′ 02.7′′

Cook North River Road A flood mark disc 2.0 ft up a staff gage downstream of Milwaukee Ave. on 

the right bank and east of N. River Rd.

mud line fair 42° 05′ 58.7′′ -87° 53′ 23.8′′

Cook Milwaukee Avenue Paint and a flag 6.0 ft up the end of a metal property fence on the left bank mud line fair 42° 05′ 39.9′′ -87° 53′ 10.8′′Cook Milwaukee Avenue A flood mark disc 3.0-4.0 ft up a walnut tree on the left bank near a parking 

lot

seed line good 42° 05′ 41.9′′ -87° 53′ 09.0′′

Cook West Lake Avenue Paint 4.0 ft up the upstream side of W. Lake Ave. bridge on the left bank seed line good 639.13 42° 05′ 15.3′′ -87° 53′ 13.3′′Cook North River Road A nail 1.0 ft up a fence downstream of E. Kensington and on the right bank 

across N. River Rd. (further west)

mud line fair 42° 04′ 42.7′′ -87° 53′ 37.8′′

Cook North River Road A nail 1.0 ft up a fence downstream of E. Kensington and on the right bank 

across N. River Rd. (further east)

mud line fair 42° 04′ 42.7′′ -87° 53′ 37.7′′

Cook North River Road Paint on the downstream side of N. River Rd. on the left bank seed line fair 635.40 42° 04′ 39.2′′ -87° 53′ 34.2′′Cook East Central Road Paint on the downstream side of E. Central Rd. on the right bank seed line good 634.60 42° 03′ 56.9′′ -87° 53′ 14.4′′Cook East Golf Road Paint on the south side of the R+R bridge crossing E. Golf Rd. on the left 

bank

seed line/debris line

good a,b632.82 42° 03′ 14.5′′ -87° 52′ 41.6′′

Cook East Golf Road Paint on the downstream side of E. Golf Rd. bridge on the right bank seed line/

debris line

excellent 633.55 42° 03′ 15.5′′ -87° 53′ 15.8′′

Cook East Golf Road A flood mark disc on a power pole downstream of the R+R bridge on the 

right bank

seed line/debris line

good 42° 03′ 8.4′′ -87° 52′ 56.0′′
Appendix 1 29

Appendix 1. High-Water Mark Site Description and Elevation at Select Stream Reaches, Flood of September 2008, Northeastern Illinois.—Continued

County Street reference High-water mark description High-water mark type High-water mark rating Elevation (ft above NAVD 88) Latitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) Longitude (degrees, minutes, seconds)

Cook Big Bend Drive A flood mark disc 3.5 ft up a tree on the right bank in a park east of Sherman seed line/

debris line

fair 632.90 42° 02′ 53.6′′ -87° 52′ 49.9′′

Cook Big Bend Drive A mark on a brick light post in front of 1964 Big Bend Dr. on the right bank mud line 632.65 42° 02′ 55.8′′ -87° 52′ 29.9′′Cook Big Bend Drive Paint 2.0 ft up a concrete wall on the right bank inbetween Hawthorn and 

Big Bend Dr.

seed line/debris line

excellent 632.45 42° 02′ 53.0′′ -87° 52′ 41.2′′

Cook Rand Road Paint on the downstream side of Rand Rd. bridge on the left bank seed line/

debris line

good 632.54 42° 02′ 39.9′′ -87° 52′ 41.7′′

Cook Rand Road A flood mark disc on a tree 20 ft downstream of Rand Rd. bridge on the right 

bank

seed line/debris line

poor 42° 02′ 40.4′′ -87° 52′ 43.5′′

Cook Rand Road Paint 3.5 ft up a levee wall 750 ft downstream of Rand Rd. bridge on the left 

bank

seed line/debris line

good 42° 02′ 32.8′′ -87° 52′ 40.7′′

Cook Miner Street Paint 4.5 ft up the R+R bridge pier downstream of Miner St. on the left bank seed line/

debris line

good 631.68 42° 02′ 19.7′′ -87° 52′ 56.4′′

Cook Miner Street Paint 2.0 ft up the downstream side of Miner St. bridge on the right bank seed line/

debris line

excellent 631.66 42° 02′ 21.6′′ -87° 52′ 58.8′′

Cook South Algonquin 

Road

Paint 2.0 ft up an abutment 15 ft downstream of S. Algonquin Rd. bridge on 

the left bank

seed line/debris line

fair 42° 01′ 53.7′′ -87° 52′ 40.0′′

Cook South Algonquin 

Road

A flood mark disc 3.0 ft up a power pole upstream of S. Algonquin Rd. on 

the left bank across a camp path

good 631.23 42° 01′ 54.6′′ -87° 52′ 32.8′′

Cook Berry Lane Paint 2.0 ft up an electrical box at 1500 Berry Ln. on the right bank seed line/

debris line

fair 630.97 42° 01′ 37.2′′ -87° 52′ 35.5′′

Cook East Oakton Street Paint 2.0 ft up an abutment downstream of E. Oakton St. bridge on the left 

bank

seed line/debris line

fair 630.96 42° 01′ 29.9′′ -87° 52′ 28.1′′

Cook I-294 Paint 6.0 ft up an abutment downstream of I-294 bridge on the left bank seed line/

debris line

fair 42° 01′ 03.7′′ -87° 51′ 58.6′′

Cook Touhy Avenue Paint 20.0 ft up an abutment on the donwstream side of Touhy Ave. on the 

left bank

seed line/debris line

excellent 629.88 42° 00′ 36.8′′ -87° 51′ 38.4′′

Cook Devon Avenue Paint 20.0 ft up an abutment 25 ft downstream of Devon Ave. bridge on the 

left bank

seed line/debris line

good 629.42 41° 59′ 44.7′′ -87° 51′ 32.1′′

Cook Higgins Road Paint on the abutment on the downstream side of Higgins Rd. bridge on the 

left bank

seed line/debris line

good 41° 59′ 19.8′′ -87° 51′ 19.6′′

Cook Lawrence Avenue Paint 3.0 ft up an abutment on the downstream side of Lawrence Ave. on the 

right bank

seed line/debris line

excellent 627.33 41° 57′ 57.7′′ -87° 51′ 19.44′′

Cook Lawrence Avenue Paint 4.0 ft up an abutment on the downstream side of Lawrence Ave. on the 

left bank

seed line/debris line

good 627.24 41° 57′ 57.7′′ -87° 51′ 16.5′′

Cook Irving Park Road Paint 1.5 ft up a guard rail on the downstream side of Irving Park Rd. on the 

right bank south of the canoe launch

good 626.39 41° 57′ 11.6′′ -87° 51′ 21.8′′
30 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois Appendix 1. High-Water Mark Site Description and Elevation at Select Stream Reaches, Flood of September 2008, Northeastern Illinois.—Continued County Street reference High-water mark description High-water mark type High-water mark rating Elevation (ft above NAVD 88) Latitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) Longitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) Cook Irving Park Road A flood mark disc 5.0 ft up a tree downstream of Irving Park Rd. on the right bank next to River Rd. seed line/ debris line good 41° 57′ 10.0′′ -87° 51′ 22.4′′ Cook Irving Park Road Paint 2.0 ft up an abutment on the downstream side of Irving Park Rd. bridge on the right bank seed line/ debris line good 41° 57′ 10.8′′ -87° 51′ 16.6′′ Cook River Road/Ivanhoe Street A flood mark disc 2.5 ft up a tree downstream of Ivanhoe St. on the right bank seed line/ debris line good 626.65 41° 56′ 47.13′′ -87° 51′ 18.1′′ Cook River Road/ Robinson Road Paint 5.5 ft up a sign post on the right bank upstream of the outfall seed line/ debris line fair 626.80 41° 56′ 36.5′′ -87° 51′ 15.0′′ Cook River Road/ Robinson Road A flood mark disc 6.0 ft up a tree on the right bank downstream of the outfall seed line/ debris line good 41° 56′ 35.7′′ -87° 51′ 14.6′′ Cook Belmont Avenue Paint 20 ft up an abutment 30 ft downstream of Belmont Ave. bridge on the right bank seed line/ debris line fair 625.15 41° 56′ 13.7′′ -87° 50′ 59.5′′ Cook Grand Avenue A flood mark disc 3.0 ft up a tree 125 ft downstream of Grand Ave. bridge and 154 ft off of the right bank mud line good 624.95 41° 55′ 46.1′′ -87° 50′ 40.1′′ Cook Thatcher Avenue/ 1st Avenue Paint 2.0 ft up the downstream side of Tatcher Ave. bridge on the left bank mud line excellent 624.34 41° 55′ 09.2′′ -87° 50′ 06.7′′

Cook First Avenue/North 

Avenue

A flood mark disc on a tree 31 ft downstream od the pedestrian bridge and 46

ft off the right bank (before the curve)

mud line good 41° 54′ 39.7′′ -87° 50′ 01.0′′

Cook Chicago Street A flood mark disc 3.0 ft up a sign post downstream of Chicago St. and 150 ft 

off the left bank

debris line good 41° 53′ 37.9′′ -87° 49′ 40.4′′

Cook Lake Street Paint 2.5 ft up a stop sign upstream of Lake St. and 30 ft off the left bank debris line good 622.78 41° 53′ 17.4′′ -87° 49′ 49.5′′Cook Lake Street Paint 4.0 ft up a light post 2 ft downstream of Lake St. on the left bank and 

south of HWM-45

mud line excellent 41° 53′ 16.4′′ -87° 49′ 49.5′′

Cook Roosevelt Road Paint on the downstream side of Roosevelt Rd. bridge 4 ft off the right bank seed line poor 621.54 41° 57′ 52.2′′ -87° 49′ 39.9′′Cook Cermac A flood mark disc 2.0 ft up a tree 140 ft upstream of Cermac Rd. between the 

left bank and Shuth fts Grove parking

debris line fair 617.51 41° 51′ 00.4′′ -87° 49′ 25.0′′

Cook West 26th Street Paint, a nail, and a flag on a tree 8 ft downstream of W. 26th St. bridge on the 

left bank

seed line fair 41° 50′ 33.0′′ -87° 49′ 43.0′′

Cook West 26th Street Paint on the downstream side of W. 26th St. bridge on the left bank seed line good 616.42 41° 50′ 33.4′′ -87° 49′ 42.8′′Cook West 31st Street Paint 5.0 ft up the upstream side of W. 31st St. bridge on the right bank seed line good 615.71 41° 50′ 07.5′′ -87° 49′ 39.7′′Cook Ridgewood Road Paint 2.0 ft up a tree stump upstream of Ridgewood Rd. on the left bank 

across Groveland Ave.

mud line good 614.58 41° 49′ 44.1′′ -87° 49′ 30.6′′

Cook Ridgewood Road Paint, a nail, and a flag 2.0 ft up a tree downstream of Ridgewood Rd. on the 

right bank across Park View

mud line good 41° 49′ 40.9′′ -87° 49′ 38.4′′

Cook Burling Road A flood mark disc 1.5 ft up a tree 110 ft upstream of the Riverside Pubic 

Library on the left bank

seed line/debris line

good 41° 49′ 33.1′′ -87° 49′ 10.2′′
Appendix 1 31

Appendix 1. High-Water Mark Site Description and Elevation at Select Stream Reaches, Flood of September 2008, Northeastern Illinois.—Continued

County Street reference High-water mark description High-water mark type High-water mark rating Elevation (ft above NAVD 88) Latitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) Longitude (degrees, minutes, seconds)

Cook State Street/

154th Street

Paint 1.5 ft up an abutnment on the downstream side of State St. bridge on 

the left bank

debris line excellent 41° 36′ 58.2′′ -87° 37′ 01.5′′

Cook State Street/

154th Street

A flood mark disc 4.0 ft up a cottonwood tree 65 ft upstream of State St. 

bridge on the left bank

debris line fair 41° 36′ 58.0′′ -87° 37′ 00.2 “

Cook 159th Street A flood mark disc 3.0 ft up a tree 1 ft downstream of 159th St. bridge on the 

right bank

seed line excellent 41° 36′ 03.8 -87° 34′ 38.3′′

Cook 159th Street Paint 6.0 ft up an abutment on the downstream side of 159th St. bridge on 

the right bank

seed line excellent 41° 36′ 03.8′′ -87° 34′ 36.4′′

Cook 159th Street Paint 5.0 ft up the 159th St. bridge wingwall downstream of the bridge on 

the left bank

debris line fair 41° 36′ 03.8′′ -87° 34′ 41.0′′

Cook Route 6/83 (Torrence 

Avenue)

Paint 7.2 ft up the Torrence Ave. bridge wingwall downstream of the bridge 

on the right bank

seed line/debris line

good 41° 35′ 41.0′′ -87° 33′ 31.6′′

Cook Burnam Avenue Paint 5.5 ft up a retaining wall 70 ft downstream of Burnam Ave. bridge on 

the left bank

debris line excellent/

good

41° 35′ 11.8′′ -87° 32′ 23.1′′

Cook Wentworth Avenue A flood mark disc 7.0 ft up a tree 20.2 ft upstream of Wentworth Ave. bridge 

near the right bank

seed line good 41° 35′ 05.4′′ -87° 31′ 46.6′′

Cook Wentworth Avenue Paint 4.8 ft up the Wentworth Ave. bridge wingwall 8 ft downstream of the 

bridge on the left bank

debris line good 41° 35′ 05.4′′ -87° 31′ 48.8′′

Cook State Street Paint 4.0 ft up an abutment on the downstream side of State St. bridge on the 

right bank

mud line good 41° 36′ 10.1′′ -87° 36′ 57.6′′

Addison Creek

Cook Rhodes Avenue Paint 2.5 ft up the electric station fence 40 ft downstream from a walking 

path off of Rhodes Ave. on the right bank

seed line/mud line

good 41° 55′ 42.9′′ -87° 54′ 37.1′′

Cook Fullerton Avenue Paint on a concrete culvert 28 ft upstream from a foot path off of Fullerton 

Ave. on the right bank

mud line fair 41° 55′ 16.3′′ -87° 54′ 31.7′′

Cook Automatic Electric 

Drive

Paint on the Automatic Electric Dr. bridge wingwall downstream of the 

bridge on the right bank

seed line poor 41° 54′ 50.9′′ -87° 54′ 18.7′′

Cook North Prater Avenue Paint on on the downstream side of N. Prater Ave. bridge on the left bank seed line good 41° 54′ 30.8′′ -87° 53′ 57.8′′Cook North Roy Avenue A flood mark disc south of playground equipment 138 ft downstream of N. 

Roy Ave. bridge on the right bank

mud line good 41° 54′ 32.0′′ -87° 53′ 43.7′′

Cook North Roberta 

Avenue

A flood mark disc 0.5 ft up a tree 77 ft downstream of N. Rorberta Ave. 

bridge on the right bank

mud line good 639.56 41° 54′ 32.2′′ -87° 53′ 35.4′′

Cook Morse Drive Paint on concrete ground on the downstream side of Morse Dr. bridge on the 

left bank

mud line poor 41° 54′ 22.2′′ -87° 53′ 27.0′′

Cook East Hirsch Avenue Paint up a 1.0 ft up a handrail 7 ft downstream of E. Hirsch Ave. bridge on 

the right bank

mud line 41° 54′ 11.5′′ -87° 53′ 24.5′′

Cook Alley between 45th 

and 46th Avenue

Paint 3.0 ft up a man hole on the left bank mud line good 41° 54′ 0.29′′ -87° 53′ 17.0′′
32 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois Appendix 1. High-Water Mark Site Description and Elevation at Select Stream Reaches, Flood of September 2008, Northeastern Illinois.—Continued County Street reference High-water mark description High-water mark type High-water mark rating Elevation (ft above NAVD 88) Latitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) Longitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) Cook North 40th Avenue A flood mark disc 1.0 ft up a power pole 2 ft off the left bank next to an alley mud line/ debris line good 41° 53′ 55.4′′ -87° 52′ 58.8′′ Cook North 40th Avenue Paint 1.4 ft up a fence at the end of N. 40th Ave. on the right bank debris line good 41° 53′ 53.8′′ -87° 52′ 56.3′′ Cook North 40th Avenue A mud line 1.4 ft up the north side of 1511 N. 40th Ave. house on the off the right bank mud line good 41° 53′ 53.4′′ -87° 52′ 55.7′′ Cook Eastern/ R+R bridge A nail and flood mark disc on the downstream side of the Eastern R+R bridge on the right bank mud line good 41° 53′ 28.4′′ -87° 52′ 17.4′′ Cook St. Charles Road Paint 3.0 ft up on the downstream side of St. Charles Rd. bridge on the left bank debris line poor 41° 53′ 12.6′′ -87° 52′ 13.8′′ Cook Harrison Street Paint on the concrete 146 ft downstream of 30th Ave. bridge on the right bank mud line fair 41° 52′ 17.8′′ -87° 52′ 11.8′′ Cook Wedgewood Road Paint 4 ft 10′′ up the Wedgewood Rd. bridge pier downstream of the bridge on the left bank mud line fair 41° 52′ 13.6′′ -87° 52′ 20.0′′ Cook Gladstone Street Paint on the Galdstone St. bridge wingwall 5 ft downstream of the bridge on the left bank mud line fair 41° 52′ 01.8′′ -87° 52′ 19.9′′ Cook Gardner Road A nail and flood mark disc 4 ft 3′′ up a tree 23 ft upstream of Gardner Rd. 

bridge on the right bank

fair 41° 51′ 40.4′′ -87° 52′ 03.7′′

Cook West 21st Avenue Paint on concrete ground 8 ft downstream of W. 12st Ave. on the right bank good 41° 51′ 04.1′′ -87° 51′ 24.0′′

Salt Creek

Cook 31st Street Paint on a 31st St. bridge wingwall 6 ft downstream of the bridge on the left 

bank

mud line fair 41° 50′ 05.9′′ -87° 50′ 33.5′′

Cook Monroe Avenue Paint on a pier east of Monroe Ave. on the right bank 41° 49′ 46.6′′ -87° 50′ 36.9′′Cook Washington Paint on a Washington bridge wingwall downstream of the bridge on the left 

bank

seed line excellent 41° 49′ 39.7′′ -87° 50′ 33.6′′

Cook Brookfeild Avenue A mark on the north side of Brookfield Ave. bridge on the west bank seed line/

debris line

excellent 41° 49′ 21.8′′ -87° 50′ 30.6′′

Poplar Creek

Cook Varsity Drive A nail on a fence 25 ft downstream of Varsity Dr. on the left bank debris line good 42° 01′ 33.0′′ -88° 15′ 02.1′′Cook Bluff City Boulevard A flood mark disc ~4.0 ft up a tree 80 ft downstream of Bluff City Blvd. 

bridge on the left bank

good 42° 01′ 08.6′′ -88° 15′ 38.6′′

Cook Bluff City Boulevard Paint ~5.0 ft up the upstream side of Bluff City Blvd. on the right bank fair 42° 01′ 08.6′′ -88° 15′ 38.6′′Kane Hammond Avenue A nail in the flood plain 33 ft south of Hammond Ave. and north of Poplar 

Creek

good 42° 00′ 55.2′′ -88° 15′ 59.9′′

Kane Hammond Avenue A flood mark disc in the flood plain 53 ft south of Hammond Ave. and north 

of Poplar Creek near a green house fts fence

good 42° 00′ 54.7′′ -88° 16′ 04.6′′
Appendix 1 33

Appendix 1. High-Water Mark Site Description and Elevation at Select Stream Reaches, Flood of September 2008, Northeastern Illinois.—Continued

County Street reference High-water mark description High-water mark type High-water mark rating Elevation (ft above NAVD 88) Latitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) Longitude (degrees, minutes, seconds)

East Branch DuPage River

DuPage Veteran′s Parkway A nail, flood mark disc, and flag ~2.5 ft up a broken tree limb 200 ft 

upstream of Veteran fts Pkwy bridge on the right bank

mud line poor 635.18 41° 42′ 41.4′′ -88° 07′ 38.7′′

DuPage Veteran′s Parkway A nail and flag ~3.0 ft up a dead tree 125 ft upstream of Veteran fts Pkwy 

bridge on the right bank

mud line poor 41° 42′ 41.9′′ -88° 07′ 39.3′′

DuPage Royce Road/Whalon 

Lake

Paint, a nail, and a flood mark disc at a tree stump downstream of Whalon 

Lake on the right bank

mud line/debris line

fair 642.78 41° 42′ 45.9′′ -88° 05′ 47.4′′

DuPage 75th Street/Highway 

33

Paint and a chiseled mark on the 75th St. bridge wingwall 10 ft upstream of 

the bridge on the right bank

debris line good/fair 41° 44′ 59.8′′ -88° 04′ 10.6′′

DuPage Arlington Drive A flood mark disc and flag 4.0 ft up a tree 5 ft upstream of Arlington Dr. 

bridge on the left bank

seed line poor 773.79 41° 58′ 29.5′′ -88° 08′ 18.8′′

DuPage Arlington Drive A flood mark disc and flag 5.0 ft up a tree downstream of Arlington Dr. 

bridge on the right bank

debris line fair 772.91 41° 58′ 29.4′′ -88° 08′ 20.0′′

DuPage Shick Road A flood mark disc and flag 5.0 ft up a tree 80 ft upstream of Shick Rd. bridge 

on the right bank

debris line fair 744.05 41° 57′ 05.8′′ -88° 10′ 57.4′′

DuPage Shick Road A flood mark disc and flag 4.0 ft up a tree 60 ft downstream of Shick Rd. 

bridge on the right bank

debris line poor 41° 57′ 04.2′′ -88° 10′ 57.9′′

DuPage Shick Road A flood mark disc and flag 3.0 ft up a tree 40 ft downstream of Shick Rd. 

Bridge on the left bank

debris line poor 743.23 41° 57′ 04.4′′ -88° 10′ 57.1′′

DuPage Shick Road A flood mark disc and flag 3.0 ft up a tree 50 ft downstream of Shick Rd. 

Bridge on the left bank

debris line poor 743.12 41° 57′ 04.3′′ -88° 10′ 57.1′′

DuPage Shick Road A flag on bike bridge 30 ft downsteam of Shick Rd. bridge debris line poor 742.94 41° 57′ 04.4′′ -88° 10′ 57.9′′DuPage Army Trail Road A flood mark disc and flag 6.0 ft up a tree 60 ft upstream of Army Trail R.d 

bridge on the left bank

debris line poor 740.90 41° 56′ 38.9′′ -88° 10′ 51.1′′

DuPage Army Trail Road A flood mark disc and flag 5.0 ft up a tree 65 ft upstream of Army Trail Rd. 

bridge on the right bank

debris line poor 740.45 41° 56′ 39.1′′ -88° 10′ 51.8′′

DuPage Army Trail Road A flood mark disc and flag 5.0 ft up a tree 60 ft upstream of Army Trail Rd. 

bridge on the right bank

debris line poor 740.79 41° 56′ 39.0′′ -88° 10′ 51.7′′

DuPage Army Trail Road A flood mark disc and flag 7.0 ft up a tree 120 ft downstream of Army Trail 

Rd. on the left bank

debris line poor 741.00 41° 56′ 36.6′′ -88° 10′ 50.3′′

DuPage Army Trail Road A flood mark disc and flag 7.0 ft up a tree 100 ft downstream of Army Trail 

Rd. on the left bank

debris line poor 740.82 41° 56′ 36.8′′ -88° 10′ 50.2′′

DuPage Geneva Road A flood mark disc and flag 5.0 ft up a tree 25 ft upstream of Geneva Rd. 

bridge on the right bank

debris line poor 720.44 41° 53′ 13.6′′ -88° 09′ 34.9′′

DuPage Geneva Road A flood mark disc and flag 4.0 ft up a tree cluster 20 ft upstream of Geneva 

Rd. bridge on the right bank

debris line poor 720.21 41° 53′ 13.5′′ -88° 09′ 35.0′′
34 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois Appendix 1. High-Water Mark Site Description and Elevation at Select Stream Reaches, Flood of September 2008, Northeastern Illinois.—Continued County Street reference High-water mark description High-water mark type High-water mark rating Elevation (ft above NAVD 88) Latitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) Longitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) DuPage Beecher Road Paint and a chiseled mark 1.0 ft up an abutment 3 ft upstream of Beecher Rd. bridge on the left bank debris line fair 713.29 41° 52′ 09.8′′ -88° 09′ 46.1′′ DuPage Baynes Avenue A flood mark disc 6.0 ft up under a tree branch 300 ft downstream of dam on the left bank seed line excellent/ good 711.17 41° 52′ 16.3′′ -88° 10′ 39.8′′ DuPage Highway 38 A flood mark disc and flag on a tree 3 ft downstream of Highway 38 bridge on the left bank debris line fair 707.36 41° 51′ 40.4′′ -88° 11′ 32.9′′ DuPage Highway 38 Wax pencil mark on an abutment on the downstream side of Highway 38 bridge on the left bank seed line poor 41° 51′ 40.4′′ -88° 11′ 32.8′′ DuPage Highway 38 A flood mark disc and flag 4.0 ft up a tree 1 ft downstream of Highway 38 on the left bank debris line fair 707.87 41° 51′ 40.4′′ -88° 11′ 33.0′′ DuPage Highway 38 A flood mark disc and flag 5.0 ft up a tree 5 ft upstream of Highway 38 bridge on the left bank debris line fair 707.72 41° 51′ 41.1′′ -89° 11′ 32.5′′ DuPage Gary′s Mill Road Wax pencil mark on street beam on the downstream side of Gary fts Mill Rd. on the right bank mud line fair NR 41° 51′ 29.5′′ -88° 11′ 37.7′′ DuPage Gary′s Mill Road A flood mark disc ~ 5.0 ft up on small tree 15 ft downstream of Gary fts Mill Rd. bridge on the right bank debris line fair 707.23 41° 51′ 29.3′′ -88° 11′ 37.5′′

DuPage Gary′s Mill Road A flood mark disc ~ 5.0 ft up on small tree 15 ft downstream of Gary fts Mill 

Rd. bridge on the right bank

debris line fair 707.12 41° 51′ 29.4′′ -88° 11′ 37.7′′

DuPage Gary′s Mill Road A flood mark disc ~ 5.0 ft up on small tree 15 ft downstream of Gary fts Mill 

Rd. bridge on the right bank

debris line fair 707.40 41° 51′ 29.5′′ -88° 11′ 37.9′′

DuPage Gary′s Mill Road A flood mark disc ~ 5.0 ft up on small tree 15 ft downstream of Gary fts Mill 

Rd. bridge on the right bank

debris line fair 707.29 41° 51′ 29.7′′ -88° 11′ 38.2′′

DuPage Mack Road A flood mark disc on the gravel drive downstream of Mack Rd. and 85 ft off 

the left bank

debris line fair NR 41° 50′ 32.4′′ -88° 11′ 53.5′′

DuPage Williams Road A flood mark disc on the upstream side of Williams Rd. 30 ft off the right 

bank

beaten grass poor NR 41° 49′ 46.4′′ -88° 11′ 25.5′′

DuPage Williams Road A flood mark disc 2.7 ft up a tree upstream of Williams Rd. bridge 10 ft off 

the right bank

mud line poor 698.49 41° 49′ 46.6′′ -88° 11′ 25.5′′

DuPage Williams Road A flag 30 ft downstream of Williams Rd. bridge 30 ft off the right bank beaten grass poor NR 41° 49′ 46.3′′ -88° 11′ 24.9′′DuPage Batavia Road Paint 5.0 ft up the Batavia Rd. bridge wingwall downstream of the bridge on 

the left bank

mud line/debris line

good 697.58 41° 49′ 42.5′′ -88° 11′ 05.9′′

DuPage Butterfeild Road/

Illinois Route 56

A flag 2.0 ft up a tree 30 ft downstream of Butterfield Rd. pedestrian bridge 

on the right bank

debris line fair NR 41° 49′ 29.5 -88° 10′ 44.1′′

DuPage Warrenville Road Paint 3.0 ft the north side of a house 200 ft downstream of Warrenville Rd. 

east of River Rd.

paint 694.27 41° 49′ 01.7′′ -88° 10′ 20.1′′

DuPage Diehl Street A flag 2.0 ft up a fence 20 ft downstream of Deihl St. bridge on the left bank mud line fair 691.75 41° 48′ 16.8′′ -88° 10′ 36.5′′DuPage Diehl Street A flag 3.0 ft up a fence 35 ft upstream of Deihl St. bridge on the left bank mud line fair 691.22 41° 48′ 17.7′′ -88° 10′ 35.2′′
Appendix 1 35

Appendix 1. High-Water Mark Site Description and Elevation at Select Stream Reaches, Flood of September 2008, Northeastern Illinois.—Continued

County Street reference High-water mark description High-water mark type High-water mark rating Elevation (ft above NAVD 88) Latitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) Longitude (degrees, minutes, seconds)

DuPage Diehl Street A flag 6.0 ft up a tree 5 ft downstream of Deihl St. bridge on the left bank good 691.98 41° 48′ 16.9′′ -88° 10′ 36.2′′DuPage Diehl Street A flood mark disc and flag 6.0 ft up a tree 20 ft downstream of Diehl St. 

bridge on the left bank

debris line good 691.50 41° 48′ 16.9′′ -88° 10′ 36.6′′

DuPage Reymond Drive at 

River Road

Paint on a spillway rock 20 ft downstream of the dam on the right bank debris line poor 681.96 41° 47′ 04.1′′ -88° 10′ 43.0′′

DuPage Reymond Drive at 

River Road

A mark 7.0 ft or 8.0 ft up on a tree branch 400 ft downstream of the dam on 

the right bank

debris line fair NR 41° 47′ 05.3 -88° 10′ 36.7′′

DuPage Reymond Drive at 

River Road

Paint 5.0 ft up the fence coraer of dam flow on the upstream side of the dam debris line good 692.10 41° 47′ 05.7′′ -88° 10′ 42.6′′

DuPage Ogden Avenue Paint 0.55 ft up the upstream side of the bridge on the right bank seed line fair 681.32 41° 46′ 54.9′′ -88° 10′ 32.2′′DuPage Ogden Avenue A flag on a tree 8 ft downstream of Ogden Rd. bridge on the right bank debris line good NR 41° 46′ 54.2′′ -88° 10′ 31.6′′DuPage Jefferson Avenue A flag 2.5 ft up the remains of a tree 40 ft downstream of Jefferson Ave. 

bridge on the right bank

mud line/debris line

poor NR 41° 46′ 21.5′′ -88° 09′ 57.4′′

DuPage Hillside Road A flag 2.0 ft up a small tree 35 ft downstream of Hillside Rd. bridge on the 

left bank

debris line good 664.95 41° 45′ 56.4′′ -88° 08′ 50.5′′

DuPage Hillside Road A flood mark disc and flag 2.0 ft up large tree 10 ft upstream of Hillside Rd. 

bridge on the right bank

debris line fair NR 41° 45′ 57.3′′ -88° 08′ 51.7′′

DuPage Hobson Road A flag 3.0 ft up a tree 25 ft upstream of hobson Rd. bridge on the left bank debris line good 656.42 41° 45′ 02.8′′ -88° 07′ 47.4′′DuPage Hobson Road A flag 3.0 ft up a marker 20 ft upstream of Hobson Rd. bridge on the left 

bank

debris line good 41° 45′ 02.7′′ -88° 07′ 47.5′′

DuPage Hobson Road A flag 3.0 ft up a marker 20 ft upstream of Hobson Rd. bridge on the left 

bank

debris line good 41° 45′ 02.7′′ -88° 07′ 47.5′′

DuPage Hobson Road A flood mark disc 3.0 ft up a tree 20 ft upstream of Hobson Rd. bridge on the 

left bank 

debris line fair 656.42 41° 45′ 02.7′′ -88° 07′ 47.5′′

DuPage Baily Road A flood mark disc 3.0 ft up a tree 30 ft uptream of Baily Rd. bridge on the 

right bank

seed line fair 652.75 41° 44′ 26.2′′ -88° 07′ 37.6′′

DuPage Washington Street A flood mark disc 2.8 ft up a tree 67 ft upstream of Washington St. bridge 

and 8 ft away from the right bank

debris line good 641.91 41° 43′ 14.8′′ -88° 07′′ 55.4′′

DuPage Fairveiw Lane and 

West Kingston Lane

A flood mark disc 3.0 ft up a park sign 34 ft from W. Kingston Ln. as you 

face the pond

seed line excellent 788.60 41° 58′ 39.6′′ -88° 12′ 00.1′′

Will Naper-Plainfield 

Road

Paint 3.8 ft up a concrete wall on the west side of Plainfeild Naperville Rd. 

on the right bank

mud line good 623.65 41° 41′ 26.9′′ -88° 10′ 00.0′′

Will 119th Street Paint 0.5 ft up the 119th St. (Ferguson Rd.) bridge structure downstream of 

the bridge and on the left bank

mud line/debris line

excellent 616.94 41° 39′ 59.1′′ -88° 10′ 56.7′′

Will West 135th Street A flood mark disc 4.0 ft up a tree 68m downstream of W. 135th St. on the 

left bank next to a boat launch.

debris line excellent 610.82 41° 38′ 12.3′′ -88° 11′ 27.1′′
36 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois Appendix 1. High-Water Mark Site Description and Elevation at Select Stream Reaches, Flood of September 2008, Northeastern Illinois.—Continued County Street reference High-water mark description High-water mark type High-water mark rating Elevation (ft above NAVD 88) Latitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) Longitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) Will North Division Street/Illinois Route 59 A flood mark disc on a tree north of a tributary and 28m west of Route 59 (North Division St.) bridge mud line excellent 603.30 41° 37′ 04.9′′ -88° 12′ 10.8′′ Will Renwick Road A flood mark disc 3.0 ft up an old power pole 12 ft upstream Renwick Rd. on the left bank mud line good 597.74 41° 35′ 32.9′′ -88° 13′ 25.1′′ Will Caton Farm Road A flood mark disc 3.3 ft up a tree 75 ft downstream of Caton Farm Rd. on the right bank mud line good 589.46 41° 33′ 53.6′′ -88° 11′ 23.0′′ Will Cottage road/Illinois Route 59 A flood mark disc 3.3 ft up a pine tree 29m downstream of Route 59 (Cottege St.) bridge on the left bank debris line excellent NR 41° 31′ 09.6′′ -88° 11′ 56.9′′ Will Mound Road Paint 0.3 ft up the Mound Rd. bridge support downstream of the bridge and on the left bank mud line excellent 558.85 41° 29′ 32.8′′ -88° 12′ 52.9′′ Will West Seil Road Paint 3.0 ft up a DNR sign 30 ft downstream of a bridge on the right bank mud line fair 563.54 41° 30′ 26.6′′ -88° 12′ 31.2′′ Will Shepley Road Paint 5.5 ft up the Shepley Rd. bridge wing wall upstream of the bridge on the left bank mud line fair 538.72 41° 28′ 05.1′′ -88° 12′ 32.8′′ Will Rivers Edge Drive A flood mark disc 4.0 ft up a tree on the right bank next to an empty lot off of Rivers Edge Rd. mud line good 525.14 41° 26′ 56.8′′ -88° 14′ 39.2′′

Will Channahon Road/

McEvilly Road

Paint 7 ft up the Channahon Rd. bridge wing wall downstream of the bridge 

and on the right bank

debris line poor 524.86 41° 26′ 53.7′′ -88° 14′ 27.0′′

Will Illinois Michigan 

Trail

Paint on a concrete wall 20 ft downstream of the I & M Trail dam on the 

right bank

seed line good 520.72 41° 25′ 18.2′′ -88° 13′ 43.0′′

Will Illinois Michigan 

Trail

Paint on a steel wall 300 ft downstream of the I & M Trail dam on the right 

bank

seed line good 520.55 41° 25′ 15.7 -88° 13′ 43.0′′

Will Blackberry Lane A nail and flood mark disc 0.5 ft up a tree in between the road, the river, and 

a parking lot

mud line good 509.58 41° 24′ 44.0′′ -88° 13′ 31.7′′

Will Bridge Street A nail and flood mark disc 2.0 ft up a tree upstream of Bridge St. bridge on 

the left bank

debris line fair 513.81 41° 25′ 14.1′′ -88° 13′ 38.2′′

South Branch Kishwaukee River

DeKalb Gurler Road A flood mark disc 3.5 ft up a tree 35 ft downstream of Gurler Rd. bridge on 

the left bank

debris line poor 41° 53′ 34.4′′ -88° 47′ 09.2′′

DeKalb Taylor Street A flood mark disc 1.5 ft up a tree 150 ft downstream of Taylor St. bridge on 

the left bank

seed line 41° 55′ 19.9′′ -88° 45′ 59.4′′

DeKalb Taylor Street A flood mark disc 4.0 ft up a tree 1000 ft upstream of Taylor St. bridge across 

a bike path on the left bank

debris line 41° 55′ 12.6′′ -88° 46′ 01.0′′

DeKalb Lucinda Avenue A flood mark disc 1.5 ft up a large tree 150 ft downstream of Lucinda Ave. 

bridge on the right bank

debris line fair 41° 56′ 12.4′′ -88° 45′ 37.6′′

DeKalb 1st Street Paint 2.0 ft up the upstream side of 1st St. bridge on the left bank debris line 41° 56′ 22.3′′ -88° 44′ 59.9′′DeKalb Hillcrest Street Paint 3.0 ft up the Hillcrest St. bridge pier upstream of the bridge on the left 

bank

debris line good 41° 56′ 25.7′′ -88° 44′ 46.3′′
Appendix 1 37

Appendix 1. High-Water Mark Site Description and Elevation at Select Stream Reaches, Flood of September 2008, Northeastern Illinois.—Continued

County Street reference High-water mark description High-water mark type High-water mark rating Elevation (ft above NAVD 88) Latitude (degrees, minutes, seconds) Longitude (degrees, minutes, seconds)

DeKalb Rich Road/

Cottonville Road

A flag 1.5 ft up a small tree 10 ft upstream of Rich Rd. bridge on the right 

bank

debris line 41° 58′ 32.2′′ -88° 43′ 37.7′′

DeKalb Illinois Route 64 A flood mark disc 1.6 ft up a tree 2000 ft downstream of Route 64 bridge on 

the left bank along a gravel pull off

debris line poor 41° 59′ 52.6′′ -88° 43′ 32.5′′

DeKalb Illinois Route 72 Paint 5.0 ft up the Route 72 bridge pier upstream of the bridge on the right 

bank

debris line good 42° 05′ 52.0′′ -88° 42′ 18.5′′

East Branch South Branch Kishwaukee River

DeKalb Illinois Route 23 A flood mark disc 5.5 ft up a tree 40 ft downstream of Route 23 bridge on the 

right bank

debris line poor 41° 59′ 43.0′′ -88° 40′ 59.7′′

DeKalb Illinois Route 64 A flood mark disc 4.23 ft up a golf catch fence off of Route 64 debris line 41° 59′ 07.3′′ -88° 40′ 03.2′′

Johnny Run

Grundy Dwight Road Paint on the downstream left bank of the Dwight Rd. concrete bridge 

support

mud line fair 590.96 41° 13′ 18.5′′ -88° 26′ 15.6′′

Grundy Illinois Route 47 Paint on the downstream left bank of Route 47 bridge seed line/

debris line

fair NR 41° 14′ 14.3′′ -88° 25′ 07.3′′

Grundy County Road 

2000 South

Paint on the downstream left bank or north west wing wall of the County 

Rd. 2000 South bridge

mud line good 568.83 41° 15′ 22.2′′ -88° 24′ 08.2′′

Grundy Old Mazon Road Paint on the upstream right bank of the Old Mazon Rd. concrete bridge 

support

mud line good 571.67 41° 14′ 58.8′′ -88° 24′ 00.1′′

Grundy County Road 

3000 South

Paint on the downstream left bank of the County Rd. 3000 South bridge 

support

mud line excellent 578.56 41° 14′ 29.6′′ -88° 24′ 24.6′′

Illinois River

Grundy Cemetary Road A nail and flood mark disc 1.5 ft up a power pole on the right bank along 

Cemetary Rd. east of a drive

seed line/mud line

fair 504.83 41° 22′ 58.2′′ -88° 21′ 40.8′′

Grundy Cemetary Road A nail, flood mark disc, and flag 3.0 ft up a power pole on the right bank 

along Cemetary Rd.

seed line/debris line

excellent 504.55 41° 22′ 21.9′′ -88° 23′ 02.1′′

Grundy William G. Stratton 

State Park

A flag ~7.0 ft up a tree in a parking lot on the right bank 

(further east)

debris line good NR 41° 21′ 19.5′′ -88° 25′ 08.1′′

Grundy William G. Stratton 

State Park

A flag ~7.0 ft up a tree in a parking lot on the right bank 

(further west)

debris line good NR 41° 21′ 19.5′′ -88° 25′ 08.1′′

Grundy Cemetary Road A flood mark disk 3.0 ft up a power pole on the right bank across Cemetary 

Rd. upstream from a canal

mud line fair 504.24 41° 21′ 55.6′′ -88° 24′ 03.5′′

Grundy Old Stage Road A flag 3.0 ft up a tree on the right bank south of a pedestrain bridge from Old 

Stage Rd. over a canal

mud line good NR 41° 21′ 09.0′′ -88° 27′ 18.3′′

Grundy Calhoun Street - 

West River

A nail and flood mark disc ~6.0 ft up a tree on the right bank south of 

Calhoun St.

mud line good/fair 503.02 41° 21′ 19.6′′ -88° 25′ 46.3′′

Nettle Creek (tributary to Illinois River)

Grundy Ottawa Street Paint on the downstream side of Ottawa St. bridge on the right bank mud line excellent 503.05 41° 21′ 26.8′′ -88° 26′ 24.6′′
38 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois

Appendix 2. Example High-Water Mark 

Documentation Field Sheet, Flood of September 

2008, Northeastern Illinois

Appendix 2. Example High-Water Mark Documentation Field Sheet, Flood of September
Appendix 3 39

Appendix 3. Flood-Peak Water-Surface Profiles at Select Stream Reaches, 

Flood of September 2008, Northeastern Illinois Water-surface altitude, in feet above North American Vertical Datum of 1988

River mile

Lawrence Ave.

W. Touhy Ave.

W. Belmont Ave.

Madison St.

Millbridge Rd.(USGS gage 05532500)

Ridgewood Rd.

W. Cermak Rd.

E. Devon Ave.

Grand Ave.

1st Ave.

Lake St.

W. Roosevelt Rd.

Irving Park Rd.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gage 05529000

Old Palatine Rd.

W. Lake Ave.

E. Golf Rd.

E. Oakton St.

E. Central Rd.

Milwaukee Ave.

Direction of flow

600

605

610

615

620

625

630

635

640

645

42 46 50 54 58 62 66 70 74

EXPLANATION

Location of high-water mark

Figure 3-1. Flood-peak water-surface profile, flood of September 2008, for Des Plaines River between Prospect Heights and Riverside.

Figure 3–1. Flood-peak water-surface profile, flood od September 2008, for Des Plaines River betwen Prospect heights and Riverside.

River mile

S. Washington St.,

USGS gage 05540130

Arlington Dr.

Schick Rd.

Roosevelt Rd.

Cenacle Retreat Ctr.

Warrenville Rd.,

age 05540095

U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS) g

Williams Rd.

Diehl Rd.

US 34

Hobson Rd.

W. Bailey Rd.

E. Hillside Rd.

Above dam near Raymond Dr.

Below dam near Raymond Dr. Near Purity Dr.

Geneva Rd.

Beecher Ave.

Garys Mill Rd.

North Ave.,

age 05539900

U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS) g

W. Army Trail Rd.

Direction of flow

620

640

660

680

700

720

740

760

780

25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60

Water-surface altitude, in feet above North American Vertical Datum of 1988

EXPLANATION

Location of high-water mark

Figure 3-2. Flood-peak water-surface profile, flood of September 2008, for West Branch DuPage River between Bloomingdale and Bolingbrook.

Figure 3–2. Flood-peak water-surface profile, flood od September 2008, for West Branch DuPage River between Bloomingdale 

and Bolingbrook.
40 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois

River mile

N. Kedzie Ave.

N. Bernard St.

W. Touhy Ave.,

age 05536000

U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS) g

N. Central Ave.

N. Cicero Ave.

W. Foster Ave.

Direction of flow

585

590

595

600

605

610

615

620

42 44 46 48 50 52

W. Harts Rd.

Footpath in

Clayton F. Smith

Woods Preserve

N. Forest Glen Ave.

USGS gage 05536105

Water-surface altitude, in feet above North American Vertical Datum of 1988

EXPLANATION

Location of high-water mark

Figure 3-3. Flood-peak water-surface profile, flood of September 2008, for North Branch Chicago River near Park Ridge.

Figure 3–3. Flood-peak water-surface profile, flood od September 2008, for North Branch Chicago River near Park Ridge.

River mile

E. Reed Road

S. Dwight

Road E. Grand Ridge Road

S. Old Mazon Road

Direction of flow

565

570

575

580

585

590

595

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Water-surface altitude, in feet above North American Vertical Datum of 1988

EXPLANATION

Location of high-water mark

Figure 3-4. Flood-peak water-surface profile, flood of September 2008, for Johnny Run near Mazon.

Figure 3–4. Flood-peak water-surface profile, flood od September 2008, for Johnny Run near Mazon.
Appendix 3 41

River mile

N. Dwight Road

William G. Stratton

State Park

Above Peacock

Slough

Electrical lines

below Aux Sable Creek

Direction of flow

502.5

503

503.5

504

504.5

505

262 263 264 265 266 267 268

Water-surface altitude, in feet above North American Vertical Datum of 1988

EXPLANATION

Location of high-water mark

Figure 3-5. Flood-peak water-surface profile of September 2008, for Illinois River near Morris.

Figure 3–5. Flood-peak water-surface profile, flood od September 2008, for Illinois River near Morris.

012345

634

636

638

640

642

644

646

River mile

Naperville Road

Lisson Road

Royce Road,

age 05540250

U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS) g

Direction of flow

648

650

6 7

Water-surface altitude, in feet above North American Vertical Datum of 1988

EXPLANATION

Location of high-water mark

Figure 3-6. Flood-peak water-surface profile, flood of September 2008, for East Branch DuPage River near Bolingbrook.

Figure 3–6. Flood-peak water-surface profile, flood od September 2008, for East Branch DuPage River near Bolingbrook.
42 Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois 

0

River mile

W. Seil Rd.

Mouth of DuPage River at Des Plaines River

W. Bridge St.

McEvilly Rd.

W. Mound Rd.

Shepley Rd.

W. 119th St.

E. 135th St.

N. Division St.

S. NapervillePlainfiled Rd.

W. Renwick Rd.

W. Caton Farm Rd.

U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS) Gage 05540500

Direction of flow

500

510

520

530

540

550

560

570

580

590

600

610

620

630

5 10 15 20 25 30

Water-surface altitude, in feet above North American Vertical Datum of 1988

EXPLANATION

Location of high-water mark

Figure 3-7. Flood-peak water-surface profile, flood of September 2008, for DuPage River between Bolingbrook and Channahon. 

Figure 3–7. Flood-peak water-surface profile, flood od September 2008, for DuPage River between Bolingbrook and Channahon.
Prepared by the Pembroke and Ohio Publishing Service 

Centers.

For more information concerning this report, contact:

Director

U.S. Geological Survey

Illinois Water Science Center

1201 W. University Avenue

Suite 100

Urbana, IL 61801

dc_il@usgs.gov

or visit our Web site at:

http://il.water.usgs.gov
Fazio and Sharpe—Flood of September 13–16, 2008, in Northeastern Illinois—Data Series 726