Sunset Lake Dam
Sunset Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Wayne County, Illinois, built in 1970. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
About Sunset Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Sunset Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Paul & Ruth Burkitt (private). It impounds the Trib Pond Creek Deainage Ditch near Carmi.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 550 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 287 acre-feet. Completed in 1970, 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 07/29/2025.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Wayne |
| Nearest City | Carmi |
| River/Stream | Trib Pond Creek Deainage Ditch |
| Coordinates | 38.34296, -88.35533 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 550 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 287 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 287 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 172 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | PAUL & RUTH BURKITT |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/29/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00823 |
| Federal ID | IL00823 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |