Apple Canyon Lake Dam
Apple Canyon Lake Dam is a rockfill dam located in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, built in 1978. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Apple Canyon Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Apple Canyon Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Apple Canyon Lake Property Owners Assoc. (private). It impounds the Hells Branch Creek near Elizabeth.
The dam stands 78 feet tall and stretches 1,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 440 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 14,630 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 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 08/18/2025.
At 78 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Jo Daviess |
| Nearest City | Elizabeth |
| River/Stream | Hells Branch Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.41622, -90.16444 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 78 ft |
| Dam Height | 78 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 14,630 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 14,630 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 11,440 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 440 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,607 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | APPLE CANYON LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOC. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/18/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00132 |
| Federal ID | IL00132 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |