Dolan Lake Dam
Dolan Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Hamilton County, Illinois, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Dolan Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Dolan Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Illinois Department Of Natural Resources (state). It impounds the Lick Creek near Elba.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 830 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 76 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,507 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1962, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 10/21/2025.
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 | Hamilton |
| Nearest City | Elba |
| River/Stream | Lick Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.05668, -88.40451 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 830 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,507 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,507 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 603 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 76 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,235 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/21/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00532 |
| Federal ID | IL00532 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |