Lincoln Trail State Park Lake Dam
Lincoln Trail State Park Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Clark County, Illinois, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Lincoln Trail State Park Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Lincoln Trail State Park 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 Sandy Branch Creek near Hutsonsville.
The dam stands 52 feet tall and stretches 1,050 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 146 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,474 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1956, 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 10/27/2023.
At 52 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 | Clark |
| Nearest City | Hutsonsville |
| River/Stream | Sandy Branch Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.33798, -87.72331 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,050 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,474 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,474 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,805 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 146 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 11,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/27/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00688 |
| Federal ID | IL00688 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |