Paragon Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Christian County, Illinois, built in 1949. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 20 ft20 ft tall and 2,286 ft long. 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 Paragon Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Paragon Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Paragon Lake Estates (private). It impounds the Coal Creek near Vandalia.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 2,286 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 65 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 583 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1949, 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 04/08/2024.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Christian |
| Nearest City | Vandalia |
| River/Stream | Coal Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.37009, -89.08985 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,286 ft |
| Year Completed | 1949 (77 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 583 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 583 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 320 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 65 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 506 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Paragon Lake Estates |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 04/08/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00677 |
| Federal ID | IL00677 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |