Farmdale Dam
Farmdale Dam is a gravity dam located in Tazewell County, Illinois, built in 1951. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Farmdale Dam
The primary purpose of Farmdale 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 Usace - Rock Island District (federal). It impounds the Farm Creek near East Peoria.
The dam stands 90 feet tall and stretches 1,275 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 15,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 26 square miles. Completed in 1951, 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 04/14/2025.
At 90 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Tazewell |
| Nearest City | East Peoria |
| River/Stream | Farm Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.67130, -89.50050 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 90 ft |
| Dam Height | 90 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,275 ft |
| Year Completed | 1951 (75 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 15,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 15,500 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 26 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 69,950 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Rock Island District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 04/14/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00005 |
| Federal ID | IL00005 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |