Lake Chautauqua Upper Dam is an earth dam located in Mason County, Illinois, built in 1916. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 21 ft21 ft tall and 15,424 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 Lake Chautauqua Upper Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Chautauqua Upper Dam is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by US Fish and Wildlife Service (federal). It impounds the See Note.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 15,424 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,200 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 17,280 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1916, the structure is over a century 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 09/09/2019.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Mason |
| River/Stream | See Note |
| Coordinates | 40.38750, -89.95833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 15,424 ft |
| Year Completed | 1916 (110 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 17,280 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 17,280 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,200 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,327 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | US Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/09/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50423 |
| Federal ID | IL50423 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |