Lake Taylorville South Fork Sediment Basin Dam
Lake Taylorville South Fork Sediment Basin Dam is an earth dam located in Christian County, Illinois, built in 2003. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
About Lake Taylorville South Fork Sediment Basin Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Taylorville South Fork Sediment Basin 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 City Of Taylorville (local government). It impounds the South Fork Sangamon River near Taylorville.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 5,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 244 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 10,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 2003, the structure is relatively new.
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 06/19/2025.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Christian |
| Nearest City | Taylorville |
| River/Stream | South Fork Sangamon River |
| Coordinates | 39.47847, -89.25916 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 5,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 2003 (23 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 244 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 30,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Debris Control |
| Owner | CITY OF TAYLORVILLE |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/19/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50467 |
| Federal ID | IL50467 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |