Northeast Recreation Area Dam
Northeast Recreation Area Dam is an earth dam located in LaSalle County, Illinois, built in 1988. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Northeast Recreation Area Dam
The primary purpose of Northeast Recreation Area 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 Peru (local government). It impounds the Trib Illinois River near Peru.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 1,850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 257 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1988, the structure is 38 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 12/30/2025.
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 | Peru |
| River/Stream | Trib Illinois River |
| Coordinates | 41.34328, -89.10819 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,850 ft |
| Year Completed | 1988 (38 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 257 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 257 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 48 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,360 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF PERU |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 12/30/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50227 |
| Federal ID | IL50227 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |