Little Wabash River Dam
Little Wabash River Dam is a gravity dam located in Effingham County, Illinois, built in 1900. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
About Little Wabash River Dam
The primary purpose of Little Wabash River Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Effingham (local government). It impounds the Little Wabash River near Effingham-offstream.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 103 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 560 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 240 square miles. Completed in 1900, the structure is over a century 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/27/2025.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Effingham |
| Nearest City | Effingham-offstream |
| River/Stream | Little Wabash River |
| Coordinates | 39.10341, -88.59265 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 103 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 560 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 560 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 36 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 240 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,902 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF EFFINGHAM |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/27/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL01085 |
| Federal ID | IL01085 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |