A stepwise dam-removal project, consisting of cutting five 12- to 18-in. notches in the dam, was completed from June 2003 through February 2004. The study area included Willow Lake on Brewster Creek near St. Charles, Illinois. The dam was 8-ft high and had a 30-ft wide crest. In 2002, the lake had a surface area of 3.96 acres and had filled with sediment to an average water depth of less than 1 ft, sediment volume equaling 14.47 acre-ft, and average sediment thickness of 3.7 ft. The deposited sediments consisted of 67 to 99 percent silts and clays. The stream channel downstream of the dam consisted primarily of sand, gravel, and cobble. The total sediment eroded during and after dam removal was approximately 13 percent of the lake [...]
