Klaus Lake Dam
Klaus Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Madison County, Illinois, built in 1960. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
About Klaus Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Klaus Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Calvin Klaus (private). It impounds the Trib Sugar Creek near Wertenburg.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 282 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 76 acre-feet. Completed in 1960, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 07/11/2025.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Madison |
| Nearest City | Wertenburg |
| River/Stream | Trib Sugar Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.72334, -89.62366 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 282 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 76 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 76 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 44 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CALVIN KLAUS |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/11/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00425 |
| Federal ID | IL00425 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |