Tara Lake Dam
Tara Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Kane County, Illinois, built in 1964. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
About Tara Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Tara Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Alan Evans & Jon Keith (private). It impounds the Trib Jelkes Creek near Sleepy Hollow.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 63 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1964, 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 10/29/2025.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Kane |
| Nearest City | Sleepy Hollow |
| River/Stream | Trib Jelkes Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.10356, -88.32576 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 63 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 63 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 57 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 65 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ALAN EVANS & JON KEITH |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/29/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00906 |
| Federal ID | IL00906 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |