Spring Arbor Lake Dam
Spring Arbor Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Jackson County, Illinois, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Spring Arbor Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Spring Arbor Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Spring Arbor Lake Improvement Assoc. (private). It impounds the Sycamore Creek near Desoto.
The dam stands 55 feet tall and stretches 650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 87 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,964 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 68 square miles. Completed in 1972, 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 11/17/2025.
At 55 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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 | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Desoto |
| River/Stream | Sycamore Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.65111, -89.16951 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Length | 650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,964 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,964 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,638 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 87 acres |
| Drainage Area | 68 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,070 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | SPRING ARBOR LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOC. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 11/17/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00065 |
| Federal ID | IL00065 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |