Carbon Lake Dam is a rockfill dam located in Jackson County, Illinois. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 14 ft14 ft tall and 730 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic rockfill embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Carbon Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Carbon Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Unknown (private). It impounds the Trib Big Muddy River.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 730 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 109 acre-feet.
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. The most recent inspection on record was 11/17/2025.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Jackson |
| River/Stream | Trib Big Muddy River |
| Coordinates | 37.75024, -89.34082 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 730 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 109 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 109 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Unknown |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 11/17/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50620 |
| Federal ID | IL50620 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |