Leroy Hinkle Dam
Leroy Hinkle Dam is an earth dam located in Carroll County, Illinois, built in 1974. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Leroy Hinkle Dam
The primary purpose of Leroy Hinkle Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Carroll Property Owners Association (private). It impounds the East Fork Plum Creek near Savanna.
The dam stands 74 feet tall and stretches 1,820 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 648 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 22,169 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 21 square miles. Completed in 1974, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/21/2025.
At 74 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Carroll |
| Nearest City | Savanna |
| River/Stream | East Fork Plum Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.18179, -89.89258 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 74 ft |
| Dam Height | 74 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,820 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 22,169 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 22,169 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 14,711 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 648 acres |
| Drainage Area | 21 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 14,016 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | LAKE CARROLL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 11/21/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00843 |
| Federal ID | IL00843 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |