Sam Parr Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Jasper County, Illinois, built in 1970. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 730 ft long, taller than 80% 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 Sam Parr Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Sam Parr 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 Croooked Creek near St.marie.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 730 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 2,650 acre-feet. Completed in 1970, 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 10/30/2025.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Jasper |
| Nearest City | St.marie |
| River/Stream | Trib Croooked Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.01315, -88.11848 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 730 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,650 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,650 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,819 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 10/30/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00661 |
| Federal ID | IL00661 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |