Lake Mingo Dam is an earth dam located in Vermilion County, Illinois, built in 1981. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 47 ft47 ft tall and 920 ft long, taller than 91% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lake Mingo Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Mingo Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Vermilion County Conservation District (local government). It impounds the Windfall Creek near Danville.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 920 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 628 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,340 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 34 square miles. Completed in 1981, the structure is 45 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 08/16/2024.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Vermilion |
| Nearest City | Danville |
| River/Stream | Windfall Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.20636, -87.73374 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 920 ft |
| Year Completed | 1981 (45 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,340 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,340 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,250 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 628 acres |
| Drainage Area | 34 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 16,256 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Vermilion County Conservation District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 08/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50038 |
| Federal ID | IL50038 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |