Lake Charles Dam
Lake Charles Dam is a concrete dam located in Lake County, Illinois, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Lake Charles Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Charles Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Village Of Vernon Hills (local government). It impounds the Seavey Drainage Ditch near Vernon Hills.
The dam stands 9 feet tall and stretches 390 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 24 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 494 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/20/2025.
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 | Lake |
| Nearest City | Vernon Hills |
| River/Stream | Seavey Drainage Ditch |
| Coordinates | 42.25539, -87.96405 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Length | 390 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 494 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 494 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 111 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 24 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | VILLAGE OF VERNON HILLS |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 11/20/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL01149 |
| Federal ID | IL01149 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |