Devil`s Kitchen Dam
Devil`s Kitchen Dam is a gravity dam located in Williamson County, Illinois, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Devil`s Kitchen Dam
The primary purpose of Devil`s Kitchen Dam is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Us Fish And Wildlife Service (federal). It impounds the Grassy Creek near Carbondale, Illinois.
The dam stands 121 feet tall and stretches 884 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 710 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 34,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 19 square miles. Completed in 1959, 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/28/2020.
At 121 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 | Williamson |
| Nearest City | Carbondale, Illinois |
| River/Stream | Grassy Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.64278, -89.10250 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 121 ft |
| Dam Height | 83 ft |
| Dam Length | 884 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 34,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 34,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 24,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 710 acres |
| Drainage Area | 19 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 66,811 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/28/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00085 |
| Federal ID | IL00085 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |