Papoose Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Cook County, Illinois, built in 1956. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 12 ft12 ft tall and 750 ft long. 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 Papoose Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Papoose Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Forest Preserve District of Cook County (local government). It impounds the Trib Mill Creek near Palos Park.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 750 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 143 acre-feet. Completed in 1956, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 05/13/2025.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Cook |
| Nearest City | Palos Park |
| River/Stream | Trib Mill Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.66524, -87.85699 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 143 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 143 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 48 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Forest Preserve District of Cook County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 05/13/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00867 |
| Federal ID | IL00867 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |