Buck Lake Dam
Buck Lake Dam is an earth dam located in DeKalb County, Illinois, built in 1971. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
About Buck Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Buck Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Buck Lake Property Association (private). It impounds the Buck Branch near Sheridan.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 125 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 98 acre-feet. Completed in 1971, 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 10/24/2025.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | DeKalb |
| Nearest City | Sheridan |
| River/Stream | Buck Branch |
| Coordinates | 41.64797, -88.65726 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 125 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 98 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 98 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 45 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | BUCK LAKE PROPERTY ASSOCIATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/24/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00881 |
| Federal ID | IL00881 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |