Red Hills Lake Dam
Red Hills Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Lawrence County, Illinois, built in 1954. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
About Red Hills Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Red Hills Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Illinois Department Of Natural Resources (state). It impounds the Trib Muddy Creek near Petrolia.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 570 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 725 acre-feet. Completed in 1954, 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 10/30/2025.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Lawrence |
| Nearest City | Petrolia |
| River/Stream | Trib Muddy Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.72857, -87.83904 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 570 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 725 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 725 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 428 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/30/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00177 |
| Federal ID | IL00177 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |