Starved Rock Lock and Dam is a concrete dam located in LaSalle County, Illinois, built in 1933. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 1,429 ft long, taller than 80% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Starved Rock Lock and Dam
The primary purpose of Starved Rock Lock 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 - Rock Island District (federal). It impounds the Illinois River near Utica.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 1,429 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 16,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11,056 square miles. Completed in 1933, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 05/23/2024.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | LaSalle |
| Nearest City | Utica |
| River/Stream | Illinois River |
| Coordinates | 41.32281, -88.98526 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,429 ft |
| Year Completed | 1933 (93 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 16,000 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 11,056 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 164,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Rock Island District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 05/23/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00004 |
| Federal ID | IL00004 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |