Choate Lake Dam
Choate Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Union County, Illinois, built in 1907. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Choate Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Choate Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Union County (local government). It impounds the Kohler Creek near Thebes.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 33 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 450 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1907, the structure is over a century 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/08/2025.
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 | Union |
| Nearest City | Thebes |
| River/Stream | Kohler Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.47211, -89.29653 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1907 (119 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 450 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 450 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 306 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 33 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 673 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | UNION COUNTY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/08/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00063 |
| Federal ID | IL00063 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |