Midlothian Creek Dam
Midlothian Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Cook County, Illinois, built in 1975. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Midlothian Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Midlothian Creek 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 Illinois Department Of Natural Resources (local government). It impounds the Midlothian Creek near Oak Forest.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 1,515 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,279 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1975, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/24/2025.
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 | Cook |
| Nearest City | Oak Forest |
| River/Stream | Midlothian Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.59491, -87.74134 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,515 ft |
| Year Completed | 1975 (51 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,279 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,279 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 148 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8,031 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 12/24/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL01002 |
| Federal ID | IL01002 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |