Shoal Creek Structure 5 Dam
Shoal Creek Structure 5 Dam is an earth dam located in Montgomery County, Illinois, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Shoal Creek Structure 5 Dam
The primary purpose of Shoal Creek Structure 5 Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by City Of Hillsboro (local government). It impounds the Trib Middle Fork Shoal Creek near Hillsboro.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 480 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 26 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,010 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1973, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/18/2025.
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 | Montgomery |
| Nearest City | Hillsboro |
| River/Stream | Trib Middle Fork Shoal Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.14733, -89.47911 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 480 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,010 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,010 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 122 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 26 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,025 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF HILLSBORO |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/18/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00928 |
| Federal ID | IL00928 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |