Lake Prestbury Dam
Lake Prestbury Dam is an earth dam located in Kane County, Illinois, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Lake Prestbury Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Prestbury Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Prestbury Citizens Association, Inc. (private). It impounds the Prestbury Branch Blackberry Creek near Sugar Grove.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 1,140 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 126 acre-feet. Completed in 1966, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/19/2025.
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 | Kane |
| Nearest City | Sugar Grove |
| River/Stream | Prestbury Branch Blackberry Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.77962, -88.42209 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,140 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 126 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 126 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 71 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | PRESTBURY CITIZENS ASSOCIATION, INC. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/19/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00924 |
| Federal ID | IL00924 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |