Lake Sara Dam is an earth dam located in Effingham County, Illinois, built in 1957. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 65 ft65 ft tall and 1,625 ft long, taller than 96% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lake Sara Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Sara Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Effingham Water Authority (public utility). It impounds the Blue Point Creek near Louisville.
The dam stands 65 feet tall and stretches 1,625 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 586 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 20,392 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 1957, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/17/2025.
At 65 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Effingham |
| Nearest City | Louisville |
| River/Stream | Blue Point Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.12611, -88.61681 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 65 ft |
| Dam Height | 65 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,625 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 20,392 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 20,392 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 11,720 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 586 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 16,450 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Effingham Water Authority |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/17/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00607 |
| Federal ID | IL00607 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |