Lake Kakusha Dam
Lake Kakusha Dam is an earth dam located in LaSalle County, Illinois, built in 1981. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Lake Kakusha Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Kakusha 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 City Of Mendota (local government). It impounds the Mendota Creek near Mendota.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 2,150 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 1,827 acre-feet. Completed in 1981, the structure is 45 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/14/2025.
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 | LaSalle |
| Nearest City | Mendota |
| River/Stream | Mendota Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.56052, -89.13487 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1981 (45 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,827 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,827 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 280 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 7,909 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF MENDOTA |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/14/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50035 |
| Federal ID | IL50035 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |