Countryside Lake Dam
Countryside Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Lake County, Illinois, built in 1928. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Countryside Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Countryside Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Countryside Lake Association (private). It impounds the Indian Creek near Long Grove.
The dam stands 9 feet tall and stretches 165 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 130 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 934 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1928, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 12/03/2024.
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 | Lake |
| Nearest City | Long Grove |
| River/Stream | Indian Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.24755, -88.03793 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Length | 165 ft |
| Year Completed | 1928 (98 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 934 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 934 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 773 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 130 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,292 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | COUNTRYSIDE LAKE ASSOCIATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 12/03/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL01001 |
| Federal ID | IL01001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |