New Cherry Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Perry County, Illinois, built in 1969. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 22 ft22 ft tall and 340 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 New Cherry Lake Dam
The primary purpose of New Cherry Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Unknown (private). It impounds the Reese Creek near Duquoin.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 340 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 72 acre-feet. Completed in 1969, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 07/16/2025.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Perry |
| Nearest City | Duquoin |
| River/Stream | Reese Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.03292, -89.22554 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 340 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 58 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Unknown |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/16/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00546 |
| Federal ID | IL00546 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |