Randy Smith commented on a MWRD post Can anyone tell me what this was for? This is located on the canal between Willow Springs and Lemont on the north side of the Channel. My guess would be it was to be used for flood control. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago: That is a view of the decommissioned Willow Springs Spillway, completed in 1909, as seen from the Sanitary and Ship Canal. It's a bit complicated, but here's the story: The the spillway was used to divert flood water from the Des Plaines river into the Sanitary and Ship Canal. This was intended to reduce peak flood levels on the Des Plaines and also to provide more water for hydroelectric power generation at our Lockport Powerhouse. After a flood in 1954 threatened downtown Chicago, the Willow Springs Spillway was decommissioned - it was determined extra water from the spillway was contributing to problems upstream in the waterway system - there wasn't room for the extra water. In addition to the structure in your photo, the "approach channel" from the Des Plaines River is still there and can be seen from the Centennial Trail if you look for it.
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