Lake Hamilton Dam is an earth dam located in Franklin County, Illinois, built in 1912. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 13 ft13 ft tall and 565 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lake Hamilton Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Hamilton Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City of Benton (local government). It impounds the Marcum Branch near Zeigler.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 565 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 216 acre-feet. Completed in 1912, the structure is over a century old.
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. The most recent inspection on record was 10/11/2024.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Franklin |
| Nearest City | Zeigler |
| River/Stream | Marcum Branch |
| Coordinates | 38.05432, -88.91034 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 565 ft |
| Year Completed | 1912 (114 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 216 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 216 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 117 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Benton |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 10/11/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00056 |
| Federal ID | IL00056 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |