Morrison Lake Dam
Morrison Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Mercer County, Illinois, built in 1965. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
About Morrison Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Morrison Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Richard Morrison (private). It impounds the Trib Edwards River near Joy-offstream.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 256 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 125 acre-feet. Completed in 1965, 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 05/02/2025.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Mercer |
| Nearest City | Joy-offstream |
| River/Stream | Trib Edwards River |
| Coordinates | 41.21527, -90.93503 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 256 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 125 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 125 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 85 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | RICHARD MORRISON |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/02/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL01136 |
| Federal ID | IL01136 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |