Salem Reservoir Dam
Salem Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Marion County, Illinois, built in 1912. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Salem Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Salem Reservoir Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Salem (local government). It impounds the Town Creek near Salem.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 775 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 78 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1912, the structure is over a century 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 06/10/2025.
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 | Marion |
| Nearest City | Salem |
| River/Stream | Town Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.64069, -88.94629 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 775 ft |
| Year Completed | 1912 (114 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 388 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 78 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CITY OF SALEM |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/10/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00245 |
| Federal ID | IL00245 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |