Caraness Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Hardin County, Illinois, built in 1959. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 37 ft37 ft tall and 370 ft long, taller than 83% 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 embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Caraness Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Caraness Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by J. D. Caraness (private). It impounds the Trib Hicks Branch near Leisure City.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 370 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 94 acre-feet. Completed in 1959, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 06/27/2024.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Hardin |
| Nearest City | Leisure City |
| River/Stream | Trib Hicks Branch |
| Coordinates | 37.54211, -88.40747 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 370 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 94 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 94 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 74 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | J. D. Caraness |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 06/27/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00099 |
| Federal ID | IL00099 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |