Godfrey Pond Dam
Godfrey Pond Dam is a dam located in Madison County, Illinois, built in 1900. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Godfrey Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Godfrey Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is private-owned. It impounds the Rocky Fork near Godfrey.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 194 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1900, 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 04/30/2025.
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 | Madison |
| Nearest City | Godfrey |
| River/Stream | Rocky Fork |
| Coordinates | 38.96016, -90.18865 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 194 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 194 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 65 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 14 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,294 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 04/30/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00182 |
| Federal ID | IL00182 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |