Drake Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Cass County, Illinois, built in 2003. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 44 ft44 ft tall and 448 ft long, taller than 89% 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 Drake Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Drake Lake 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 Illinois Department of Natural Resources (state). It impounds the Trib Cox Creek near Chandlerville.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 448 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 34 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 672 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 04/19/2023.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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 | Cass |
| Nearest City | Chandlerville |
| River/Stream | Trib Cox Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.00546, -90.08268 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 448 ft |
| Year Completed | 2003 (23 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 672 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 672 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 484 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 34 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,727 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 04/19/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50454 |
| Federal ID | IL50454 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |