Pelikan-surgeon-shapanski is an earth dam located in Jersey County, Illinois, built in 1965. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 45 ft45 ft tall and 550 ft long, taller than 90% 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 Pelikan-surgeon-shapanski
The primary purpose of Pelikan-surgeon-shapanski is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Don Pelikan;don Pelikan (private). It impounds the Tr- Otter Creek S Fork near Nutwood.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 550 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 192 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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. The most recent inspection on record was 08/22/2025.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 90% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Jersey |
| Nearest City | Nutwood |
| River/Stream | Tr- Otter Creek S Fork |
| Coordinates | 39.00886, -90.43764 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 550 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 192 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 192 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 144 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 184 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Don Pelikan;don Pelikan |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 08/22/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL40053 |
| Federal ID | IL40053 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |