Vernor Lake Dam
Vernor Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Richland County, Illinois, built in 1924. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
About Vernor Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Vernor 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 Olney (local government). It impounds the Trib Fox River near Olney.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 820 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 45 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 972 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1924, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/28/2025.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Richland |
| Nearest City | Olney |
| River/Stream | Trib Fox River |
| Coordinates | 38.76407, -88.10301 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 820 ft |
| Year Completed | 1924 (102 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 972 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 972 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 45 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 221 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CITY OF OLNEY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/28/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00793 |
| Federal ID | IL00793 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |