Lake Lou Yaeger Dam
Lake Lou Yaeger Dam is an earth dam located in Montgomery County, Illinois, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Lake Lou Yaeger Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Lou Yaeger 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 Litchfield (local government). It impounds the West Fork Shoal Creek near Panama.
The dam stands 54 feet tall and stretches 1,270 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,410 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 44,430 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 104 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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 12/17/2025.
At 54 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 | Montgomery |
| Nearest City | Panama |
| River/Stream | West Fork Shoal Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.18739, -89.60427 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,270 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 44,430 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 44,430 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 15,380 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,410 acres |
| Drainage Area | 104 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 93,550 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CITY OF LITCHFIELD |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 12/17/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00693 |
| Federal ID | IL00693 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |