Illinois Central Railroad Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Washington County, Illinois, built in 1930. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 24 ft24 ft tall and 590 ft long. 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 Illinois Central Railroad Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Illinois Central Railroad Reservoir Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Southern Illinois United Church Corp. (private). It impounds the Trib Little Muddy River near Dubois.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 590 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 220 acre-feet. 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. The most recent inspection on record was 07/22/2024.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Washington |
| Nearest City | Dubois |
| River/Stream | Trib Little Muddy River |
| Coordinates | 38.25361, -89.21261 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 590 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 220 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 220 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 121 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Southern Illinois United Church Corp. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/22/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00401 |
| Federal ID | IL00401 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |