Paradise Lake Dam
Paradise Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Coles County, Illinois, built in 1929. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Paradise Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Paradise Lake 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 Mattoon (local government). It impounds the Little Wabash River near Neoga.
The dam stands 46 feet tall and stretches 1,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 174 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,834 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 16 square miles. Completed in 1929, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 10/22/2025.
At 46 feet, this dam is taller than 91% 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 | Coles |
| Nearest City | Neoga |
| River/Stream | Little Wabash River |
| Coordinates | 39.41331, -88.43831 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1929 (97 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,834 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,834 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,350 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 174 acres |
| Drainage Area | 16 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 21,900 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CITY OF MATTOON |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/22/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00710 |
| Federal ID | IL00710 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |