Spaulding Dam
Spaulding Dam is a concrete dam located in Sangamon County, Illinois, built in 1933. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Spaulding Dam
The primary purpose of Spaulding Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Water, Light & Power (public utility). It impounds the Sugar Creek near Springfield.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 3,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4,224 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 101,205 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 265 square miles. Completed in 1933, 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 10/16/2024.
At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 | Sangamon |
| Nearest City | Springfield |
| River/Stream | Sugar Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.76089, -89.59756 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1933 (93 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 101,205 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 101,205 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 53,504 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4,224 acres |
| Drainage Area | 265 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 58,100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CITY WATER, LIGHT & POWER |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00749 |
| Federal ID | IL00749 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |