Owens Lake Dam
Owens Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Macoupin County, Illinois. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Owens Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Owens Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Owens (private). It impounds the Trib West Fork Wood R near Brighton.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 310 feet across.
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. The most recent inspection on record was 06/23/2025.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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 | Macoupin |
| Nearest City | Brighton |
| River/Stream | Trib West Fork Wood R |
| Coordinates | 39.03138, -90.12148 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 310 ft |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | OWENS |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/23/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50742 |
| Federal ID | IL50742 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |