Canton City Lake Dam
Canton City Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Fulton County, Illinois, built in 1939. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Canton City Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Canton City Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Canton (local government). It impounds the West Branch Copperas Creek near Banner.
The dam stands 57 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 285 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,080 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 14 square miles. Completed in 1939, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 12/08/2023.
At 57 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Fulton |
| Nearest City | Banner |
| River/Stream | West Branch Copperas Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.56321, -89.97401 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Length | 900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,080 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,080 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,540 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 285 acres |
| Drainage Area | 14 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 32,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CITY OF CANTON |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 12/08/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00216 |
| Federal ID | IL00216 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |