Waddell Dam is an earth dam located in Schuyler County, Illinois, built in 1998. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 33 ft33 ft tall and 300 ft long, taller than 76% 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 Waddell Dam
The primary purpose of Waddell Dam is debris control. The dam is designed to catch sediment, rocks, and debris carried by flowing water — particularly important in areas prone to mudslides or heavy erosion. The dam is owned by Larry & Virginia Waddell (private). It impounds the Trib Willow Creek.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 183 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 low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 09/05/2024.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 76% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Schuyler |
| River/Stream | Trib Willow Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.27056, -90.71501 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1998 (28 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 183 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 183 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Debris Control |
| Owner | Larry & Virginia Waddell |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 09/05/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50411 |
| Federal ID | IL50411 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |