Sandy Run Lake Dam is an earth dam located in White County, Illinois, built in 1903. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 29 ft29 ft tall and 800 ft long, taller than 65% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 Sandy Run Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Sandy Run Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Sandy Run Lake Inc. (private). It impounds the Trib Bear Creek near Elba.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 529 acre-feet. Completed in 1903, the structure is over a century 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 05/28/2024.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | White |
| Nearest City | Elba |
| River/Stream | Trib Bear Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.93068, -88.35836 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1903 (123 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 529 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 529 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 230 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Sandy Run Lake Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 05/28/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00583 |
| Federal ID | IL00583 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |