Lake Bloomington Dam is an earth dam located in McLean County, Illinois, built in 1930. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 51 ft51 ft tall and 1,000 ft long, taller than 93% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lake Bloomington Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Bloomington 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 Bloomington (local government). It impounds the Money Creek near Mackinaw.
The dam stands 51 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 635 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 17,806 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 69 square miles. Completed in 1930, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 11/10/2025.
At 51 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | McLean |
| Nearest City | Mackinaw |
| River/Stream | Money Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.66131, -88.93639 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 17,806 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 17,806 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,760 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 635 acres |
| Drainage Area | 69 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 48,147 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Bloomington |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 11/10/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00282 |
| Federal ID | IL00282 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |