Powerton Cooling Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Tazewell County, Illinois, built in 1970. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 31,200 ft long, taller than 55% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Powerton Cooling Lake Dam
Powerton Cooling Lake Dam is a dam in Tazewell, Illinois. The dam is owned by Midwest Generation, Powerton Station (private). It impounds the Illinois River-offstream near Pekin.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 31,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,440 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 25,630 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1970, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 10/08/2025.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Tazewell |
| Nearest City | Pekin |
| River/Stream | Illinois River-offstream |
| Coordinates | 40.55548, -89.71207 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 31,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 25,630 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 25,630 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 15,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,440 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 62 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Midwest Generation, Powerton Station |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 10/08/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00814 |
| Federal ID | IL00814 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |