Sauk Trail Dam
Sauk Trail Dam is an earth dam located in Will County, Illinois, built in 1980. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Sauk Trail Dam
The primary purpose of Sauk Trail 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 Forest Preserve District Of Will County (local government). It impounds the Trib Hickory Creek near Frankfort.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 1,160 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 3,230 acre-feet. Completed in 1980, the structure is 46 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/27/2025.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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 | Frankfort |
| River/Stream | Trib Hickory Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.48658, -87.79511 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,160 ft |
| Year Completed | 1980 (46 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,230 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,230 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 25,932 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF WILL COUNTY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/27/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL01237 |
| Federal ID | IL01237 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |