Jones Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Macoupin County, Illinois, built in 1970. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 36 ft36 ft tall and 400 ft long, taller than 82% 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 Jones Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Jones Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Randy Jones (private). It impounds the Honey Cut Branch near Alton.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 138 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 06/23/2025.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Macoupin |
| Nearest City | Alton |
| River/Stream | Honey Cut Branch |
| Coordinates | 39.05024, -90.07207 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 138 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 138 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 96 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Randy Jones |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 06/23/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL01052 |
| Federal ID | IL01052 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |