Vandalia Municipal Reservoir Dam
Vandalia Municipal Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Fayette County, Illinois, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Vandalia Municipal Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Vandalia Municipal Reservoir Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Vandalia (local government). It impounds the Bear Creek near Vandalia.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 1,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 660 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,460 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 25 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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 07/18/2025.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
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 | Fayette |
| Nearest City | Vandalia |
| River/Stream | Bear Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.01216, -89.11871 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,460 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,460 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,560 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 660 acres |
| Drainage Area | 25 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 11,900 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CITY OF VANDALIA |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/18/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00623 |
| Federal ID | IL00623 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |