Rowe Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Morgan County, Illinois, built in 1970. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 27 ft27 ft tall and 393 ft long, taller than 59% 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 Rowe Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Rowe Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by R. Y. Rowe, Jr. (private). It impounds the Brushy Fork near Winchester.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 393 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 177 acre-feet. 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. The most recent inspection on record was 11/16/2023.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Morgan |
| Nearest City | Winchester |
| River/Stream | Brushy Fork |
| Coordinates | 39.65179, -90.28432 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 393 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 177 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 177 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 142 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | R. Y. Rowe, Jr. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 11/16/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL00987 |
| Federal ID | IL00987 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |