Gordon F. Moore Park Dam is an earth dam located in Madison County, Illinois, built in 1988. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 27 ft27 ft tall and 460 ft long, taller than 59% 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 Gordon F. Moore Park Dam
The primary purpose of Gordon F. Moore Park Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City of Alton (local government). It impounds the Trib West Fork Wood River near Forest Homes.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 460 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 13 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 175 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1988, the structure is 38 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/20/2025.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Madison |
| Nearest City | Forest Homes |
| River/Stream | Trib West Fork Wood River |
| Coordinates | 38.90379, -90.11688 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 460 ft |
| Year Completed | 1988 (38 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 175 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 175 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 52 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 13 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,035 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Alton |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 08/20/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50037 |
| Federal ID | IL50037 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |