Eckert Lake Dam
Eckert Lake Dam is an earth dam located in St. Clair County, Illinois, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Eckert Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Eckert Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Vernon Lairer (private). It impounds the Trib Prairie Dupont Creek near French Village.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 420 acre-feet. Completed in 1960, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 09/12/2025.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% 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 | St. Clair |
| Nearest City | French Village |
| River/Stream | Trib Prairie Dupont Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.49656, -90.07249 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 420 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 420 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 330 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 36 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | VERNON LAIRER |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/12/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50082 |
| Federal ID | IL50082 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |