Ravenel Lake Dam
Ravenel Lake Dam is an earth dam located in St. Clair County, Illinois, built in 2003. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Ravenel Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Ravenel Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Ravenel Limited, Llc (private). It impounds the Trib Richland Creek near Village Of Swansea.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 360 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 34 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 2003, the structure is relatively new.
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 05/02/2025.
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 | St. Clair |
| Nearest City | Village Of Swansea |
| River/Stream | Trib Richland Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.56929, -89.96069 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 360 ft |
| Year Completed | 2003 (23 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 34 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 34 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 24 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 533 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | RAVENEL LIMITED, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/02/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50451 |
| Federal ID | IL50451 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |