Smithland Locks and Dam is a concrete dam located in Livingston County, Illinois, built in 1980. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 56 ft56 ft tall and 130 ft long, taller than 94% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Smithland Locks and Dam
The primary purpose of Smithland Locks and Dam is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by USACE - Louisville District (federal). It impounds the Ohio River near Smithland.
The dam stands 56 feet tall and stretches 130 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 23,600 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 738,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 144,000 square miles. Completed in 1980, the structure is 46 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/18/2022.
At 56 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Livingston |
| Nearest City | Smithland |
| River/Stream | Ohio River |
| Coordinates | 37.16623, -88.42922 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Length | 130 ft |
| Year Completed | 1980 (46 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 738,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 738,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 406,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 23,600 acres |
| Drainage Area | 144,000 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 190,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | USACE - Louisville District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/18/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50499 |
| Federal ID | IL50499 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |