Lake Vermilion Dam
Lake Vermilion Dam is an earth dam located in Vermilion County, Illinois, built in 1925. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Lake Vermilion Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Vermilion 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 Aqua Illinois, Inc. (private). It impounds the North Fork Vermilion River near Danville.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 645 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 608 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 15,352 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 320 square miles. Completed in 1925, the structure is over a century old.
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 09/05/2024.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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 | Vermilion |
| Nearest City | Danville |
| River/Stream | North Fork Vermilion River |
| Coordinates | 40.15644, -87.65201 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 645 ft |
| Year Completed | 1925 (101 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 15,352 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 15,352 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,641 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 608 acres |
| Drainage Area | 320 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 106,565 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | AQUA ILLINOIS, INC. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/05/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00525 |
| Federal ID | IL00525 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |