Map of All 1,633 Illinois Dams
Illinois has 1,633 dams in the National Inventory of Dams — and 252 are classified as high hazard (15% of the state’s total), meaning failure would likely cause loss of life. 0 Illinois dams are both high-hazard and in poor or unsatisfactory condition.
Use the interactive Illinois dams map below to explore every dam in the state, color-coded by hazard level. Click any dam for its condition assessment, last inspection date, and Emergency Action Plan status. Or view the full US Dams interactive map to compare Illinois to every other state.
Hazard
Condition
Purpose
Illinois Dams by the Numbers
- 1,633 total dams in Illinois
- 252 high hazard — failure would likely cause loss of life
- 362 significant hazard
- 1,008 low hazard
- 6 in poor or unsatisfactory condition (5 poor, 1 unsatisfactory)
- 0 Illinois dams are both high-hazard AND in poor/unsatisfactory condition
Data source: US Army Corps of Engineers, National Inventory of Dams (NID).
The Tallest Dams in Illinois
The tallest dam in Illinois is Refuse Disposal Area at 175 feet, completed in unknown year. The 10 tallest Illinois dams from the National Inventory of Dams:
| Dam | Height | Year | Primary Purpose | Condition | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refuse Disposal Area | 175 ft | – | Water Supply | Not Available | Saline |
| Shelbyville Dam | 138 ft | 1970 | Flood Risk Reduction | Not Available | Shelby |
| Duck Creek Station Dams | 123 ft | 1975 | Other | Not Available | Fulton |
| Devil`s Kitchen Dam | 121 ft | 1959 | Fish and Wildlife Pond | Satisfactory | Williamson |
| Macoupin Energy Refuse Disposal Area 6 | 117 ft | 1991 | Tailings | Not Available | Macoupin |
| Sugar Camp/Mine 1/North Refuse Disposal Facility Dam | 117 ft | – | Tailings | Not Available | Franklin |
| Thorton Quarry Gap Dam | 116 ft | 2013 | Flood Risk Reduction | Not Available | Cook |
| American Coal/Galatia/Bunkhouse Rdf Dam | 110 ft | – | Other | Not Available | Saline |
| International Coal/Viper/Slurry Impoundment | 109 ft | 1984 | Other | Not Available | Logan |
| Arclar/Willow Lake/Refuse Area 2 Dam | 108 ft | – | Tailings | Not Available | Saline |
Dam Safety in Illinois
Dam safety in Illinois is overseen by the state dam safety program, in coordination with federal regulators: the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation (for federal water projects), the Tennessee Valley Authority where applicable, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for licensed hydropower dams. Emergency Action Plans are typically required for high-hazard dams under state regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dams are in Illinois?
Illinois has 1,633 dams in the National Inventory of Dams tracked by the US Army Corps of Engineers: 252 high hazard, 362 significant hazard, and 1,008 low hazard.
What is the tallest dam in Illinois?
The tallest dam in Illinois is Refuse Disposal Area at 175 feet, completed in unknown year. It is primarily a water supply structure.
How many Illinois dams are in poor condition?
6 Illinois dams are currently rated as being in Poor or Unsatisfactory condition. Of those, 0 are also classified as high-hazard — meaning failure would likely cause loss of life.
