Lake Centralia Dam is an earth dam located in Marion County, Illinois, built in 1911. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 31 ft31 ft tall and 720 ft long, taller than 72% 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 Lake Centralia Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Centralia 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 Centralia (local government). It impounds the Martin Branch near Central City.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 720 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 300 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,165 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1911, the structure is over a century 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/24/2024.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Marion |
| Nearest City | Central City |
| River/Stream | Martin Branch |
| Coordinates | 38.55875, -89.00561 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 720 ft |
| Year Completed | 1911 (115 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,165 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,165 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,772 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 300 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,183 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Centralia |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/24/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00239 |
| Federal ID | IL00239 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |