Smith Lake Dam
Smith Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Jersey County, Illinois, built in 1966. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
About Smith Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Smith Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lena E. Smith (private). It impounds the Trib Little Piasa Creek near Alton.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 85 acre-feet. Completed in 1966, 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 08/27/2025.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 84% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Jersey |
| Nearest City | Alton |
| River/Stream | Trib Little Piasa Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.98912, -90.28062 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 85 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 85 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 60 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | LENA E. SMITH |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/27/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00902 |
| Federal ID | IL00902 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |