Downing Pond Dam
Downing Pond Dam is a dam located in Madison County, Illinois, built in 1967. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
About Downing Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Downing Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is private-owned. It impounds the Lick Branch-offstream near Alton.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 230 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 65 acre-feet. Completed in 1967, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 08/20/2025.
At 32 feet, this dam is taller than 76% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Madison |
| Nearest City | Alton |
| River/Stream | Lick Branch-offstream |
| Coordinates | 38.94576, -90.09353 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 230 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 65 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 65 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 49 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/20/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00183 |
| Federal ID | IL00183 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |