The Great Kishwaukee River Flood of 2007

Beginning late on Thursday, August 23, and in the early hours of Friday, August 24, the Kishwaukee River flooded following a period of heavy rain. Areas on and near the N.I.U. campus and in the southern part of the city of Dekalb were particularly heavily hit. The river crested at 15.24 feet at 11:00 AM on Friday, with flood stage considered to be anything above 10.0 feet. The crest was approximately 0.56 feet short of the all-time record of 15.8 feet, which was set on July 2, 1983. ( G. Sebenste, personal communication )

More heavy rain was in the forecast for Friday, so the university administration declared an emergency closure of the campus on what would have been the opening day of the fall term. The additional rain fortunately did not materialize, and the flood had all but passed by Sunday afternoon, August 26. Though property damage was locally extensive, there is cause for gratitude in that no-one suffered significant injury because of the flood.

As geologists, we were of course very much interested in this natural phenomenon. On this page have been collected a number of photographs taken by members of the department during the event, and there is a QuickTime® movie of the Great Kishwaukee Flood ( ~20 megs ), offered courtesy of Dr. Eugene Perry, which you can download. A hydrograph of the flood, which we have from the U.S.G.S., is also available.

We'll begin the tour on the south side of town and proceed more-or-less downstream, that is, in a northerly direction. This view is of a children's playset in a flooded park on Taylor St. The Taylor St. area adjacent to the Kishwaukee River saw considerable flooding, and there were mandatory evacuations. Photo courtesy of Dr. Colin Booth.

Here we're looking up Castle Drive in the direction of Altgeld Hall from just inside the university gates. Lincoln Highway is behind us; the much-inflated lagoon is on the right and in front; and the ramp to the left leads to a parking lot. Photo courtesy of Dr. Colin Booth.

The stone wall you see, normally high and dry, is the firepit used for skater's warming fires in the winter when the lagoon is frozen. Photo courtesy of Dr. Colin Booth.

The bridge these students are wading across is normally about four feet above the water, and is intended to connect the shore of the lagoon with islands, now submerged, out in the middle of it. Photo courtesy of Chris Greer.

This was taken through an office window in Davis Hall towards the lagoon. The row of bushes, now well out in the water, is normally at the water's edge. Photo courtesy of Dr. Colin Booth.

Here's a close-up of students frolicking in the flood waters in the area of the previous picture, and taken through the same office window in Davis Hall. Photo courtesy of Dr. Colin Booth.

Here's a heartbreaker: Flooded student cars on College Avenue. Photo courtesy of Dr. Colin Booth.

That's not the lagoon in front of you any more, but the Mighty Kish. The lagoon is 'way off to the left. We're looking across the Kishwaukee River towards campus from Woodley Avenue. The tower of Altgeld Hall is visible in the distance, and College Avenue is on the left. The riverbank is normally on the far side of the trees in the foreground. Photo courtesy of Dr. Colin Booth.

The black Mercedes flooded out on Lucinda Avenue and stalled in water too deep for it to negotiate. The Kish and the bridge are behind you in this view, looking west. The individual standing on the left with the tripod is a cameraman for a local TV station, and this scene made the evening news. Photo courtesy of Chris Greer.

Looking east now, in the opposite direction from the picture above, it's obvious that there's water over the bridge on Lucinda Avenue. The Music Building is to your right. Photo courtesy of Chris Greer.

As a matter of fact, there's water over, under, and around, the bridge on Lucinda Avenue. That's the Music Building across the river on the left. Photo courtesy of Dr. Colin Booth.

This red Cadillac couldn't manage the pool on the east side of the Kishwaukee. It was deeper than it looked. The view is west, with the Music Building on the left across the river. Photo courtesy of Dr. Colin Booth.

Another heartbreaker downstream of the Lucinda Avenue bridge: Look at the sign; the house is for sale. Photo courtesy of Chris Greer.

The two women are walking along the top of the levee on the right bank. The water has overtopped the levees on both sides and covered the flood plains. First street isn't far ahead. Photo courtesy of Chris Greer.

Dr. Paul Stoddard and Beth Johnson, spotted on the high road to nowhere. First street is closer now. Photo courtesy of Chris Greer.

Having passed the perils of the "high road to nowhere," Beth takes her ease at the edge of the flood. The view is back towards the campus with the Engineering Building in the background. Photo courtesy of Chris Greer.

We'll end our journey at the bridge on Hillcrest Drive, which was high and dry, but only just. Photo courtesy of Dr. Colin Booth.

This page was made by Neil Dickey. If you have questions or comments, feel free to e-mail me.

Last updated 08/29/07