Clay City Side Channel Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Clay County, Illinois, built in 1998. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 11 ft11 ft tall and 3,500 ft long. 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 Clay City Side Channel Reservoir Dam
Clay City Side Channel Reservoir Dam is a dam in Clay, Illinois. The dam is owned by Village of Clay City (local government). It impounds the Trib Little Wabash River near Clay City.
The dam stands 11 feet tall and stretches 3,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 170 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1998, the structure is 28 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. The most recent inspection on record was 09/18/2025.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Clay |
| Nearest City | Clay City |
| River/Stream | Trib Little Wabash River |
| Coordinates | 38.70464, -88.35281 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1998 (28 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 170 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 170 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 125 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Village of Clay City |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 09/18/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50331 |
| Federal ID | IL50331 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |