Kinkaid Lake Dam
Kinkaid Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Jackson County, Illinois, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Kinkaid Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Kinkaid Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Illinois Department Of Natural Resources (state). It impounds the Kinkaid Creek near Grimsby.
The dam stands 96 feet tall and stretches 980 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,500 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 153,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 62 square miles. Completed in 1972, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/17/2025.
At 96 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Illinois dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Grimsby |
| River/Stream | Kinkaid Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.77772, -89.45398 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 96 ft |
| Dam Height | 96 ft |
| Dam Length | 980 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 153,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 153,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 78,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,500 acres |
| Drainage Area | 62 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 45,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 11/17/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00012 |
| Federal ID | IL00012 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |