Raccoon Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Marion County, Illinois, built in 1943. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 29 ft29 ft tall and 1,480 ft long, taller than 65% 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 Raccoon Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Raccoon Lake Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City of Centralia (local government). It impounds the Raccon Creek near Central City.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 1,480 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 730 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 48 square miles. Completed in 1943, 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 07/24/2024.
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 | Marion |
| Nearest City | Central City |
| River/Stream | Raccon Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.54341, -89.10891 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,480 ft |
| Year Completed | 1943 (83 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,709 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 730 acres |
| Drainage Area | 48 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 23,471 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Centralia |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/24/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00242 |
| Federal ID | IL00242 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |