Sangchris Lake Dam
Sangchris Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Christian County, Illinois, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Sangchris Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Sangchris Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Kincaid Generation, L.l.c. (private). It impounds the Trib South Fork Sangamon River near Pawnee.
The dam stands 55 feet tall and stretches 1,650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,800 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 73,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 74 square miles. Completed in 1967, 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 09/19/2025.
At 55 feet, this dam is taller than 94% 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 | Christian |
| Nearest City | Pawnee |
| River/Stream | Trib South Fork Sangamon River |
| Coordinates | 39.64898, -89.47801 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 73,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 73,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 34,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,800 acres |
| Drainage Area | 74 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 50,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | KINCAID GENERATION, L.L.C. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/19/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00673 |
| Federal ID | IL00673 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |