Cortland Water Reclamation Facility Cell 4 Dam is an earth dam located in DeKalb County, Illinois, built in 2008. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 17 ft17 ft tall and 3,250 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 Cortland Water Reclamation Facility Cell 4 Dam
The primary purpose of Cortland Water Reclamation Facility Cell 4 Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Town of Cortland (local government). It impounds the None near Cortland.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 3,250 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 336 acre-feet. Completed in 2008, 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 10/27/2025.
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 | DeKalb |
| Nearest City | Cortland |
| River/Stream | None |
| Coordinates | 41.91927, -88.66459 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,250 ft |
| Year Completed | 2008 (18 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 336 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 336 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 328 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Town of Cortland |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 10/27/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50565 |
| Federal ID | IL50565 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |