Kemery Lake Dam
Kemery Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Will County, Illinois, built in 1942. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Kemery Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Kemery Lake 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 Usda, Forest Service (federal). It impounds the Prairie Creek near Joliet Army Ammunitions Plnt.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 116 acre-feet. Completed in 1942, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/09/2020.
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 | Will |
| Nearest City | Joliet Army Ammunitions Plnt |
| River/Stream | Prairie Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.36493, -88.10381 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1942 (84 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 116 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 116 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 64 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | USDA, FOREST SERVICE |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/09/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL01112 |
| Federal ID | IL01112 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |