Oregon Dam
Oregon Dam is an other dam located in Ogle County, Illinois, built in 1914. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Oregon Dam
The primary purpose of Oregon Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Illinois Department Of Natural Resources (state). It impounds the Rock River near Grand Detour.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 868 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 900 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8,205 square miles. Completed in 1914, the structure is over a century 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 05/14/2025.
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 | Ogle |
| Nearest City | Grand Detour |
| River/Stream | Rock River |
| Coordinates | 42.01664, -89.32765 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Other |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 868 ft |
| Year Completed | 1914 (112 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 900 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8,205 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/14/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL01010 |
| Federal ID | IL01010 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |