Sampsons Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Montgomery County, Illinois, built in 1970. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall and 234 ft long, taller than 74% 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 Sampsons Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Sampsons Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Harry Sampson (private). It impounds the Trib West Fork Shoal Creek near Panama.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 234 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 33 acre-feet. Completed in 1970, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 08/08/2025.
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 | Panama |
| River/Stream | Trib West Fork Shoal Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.08921, -89.56271 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 234 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 33 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 33 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 24 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Harry Sampson |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 08/08/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00929 |
| Federal ID | IL00929 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |