Olmsted Locks And Dam
Olmsted Locks And Dam is a concrete dam located in Ballard County, Illinois, built in 2018. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
About Olmsted Locks And Dam
The primary purpose of Olmsted Locks And Dam is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by Usace - Louisville District (federal). It impounds the Ohio River near Olmsted.
The dam stands 67 feet tall and stretches 3,575 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 19,000 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 728,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 203,000 square miles. Completed in 2018, the structure is relatively new.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/09/2025.
At 67 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Ballard |
| Nearest City | Olmsted |
| River/Stream | Ohio River |
| Coordinates | 37.18342, -89.06345 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 67 ft |
| Dam Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,575 ft |
| Year Completed | 2018 (8 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 728,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 728,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 425,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 19,000 acres |
| Drainage Area | 203,000 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Louisville District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/09/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50745 |
| Federal ID | IL50745 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |