East Lake Centre Dam
East Lake Centre Dam is an earth dam located in Adams County, Illinois, built in 1995. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About East Lake Centre Dam
The primary purpose of East Lake Centre 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 Alan Mays (private). It impounds the Trib Emery Creek near Quincy.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 270 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 0 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1995, the structure is 31 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 09/24/2025.
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 | Adams |
| Nearest City | Quincy |
| River/Stream | Trib Emery Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.93068, -91.35622 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 270 ft |
| Year Completed | 1995 (31 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 0 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 88 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | ALAN MAYS |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/24/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50486 |
| Federal ID | IL50486 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |