Ramsey Lake Dam
Ramsey Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Fayette County, Illinois, built in 1948. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
About Ramsey Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Ramsey 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 Trib Ramsey Creek near Vandalia.
The dam stands 43 feet tall and stretches 487 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 47 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,064 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1948, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 10/31/2023.
At 43 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Fayette |
| Nearest City | Vandalia |
| River/Stream | Trib Ramsey Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.15987, -89.13522 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 43 ft |
| Dam Height | 43 ft |
| Dam Length | 487 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,064 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,064 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 592 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 47 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,018 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/31/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00619 |
| Federal ID | IL00619 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |