Athey Lake Dam

TRIB BIG CREEK· Crawford, Illinois· Built 1952· Earth· 20 ft tall
Low Hazard Recreation Private

Key Takeaway

Athey Lake Dam is classified as low hazard in Illinois. It was completed in 1952 and is 74 years old. Its primary use is recreation.

Physical Details

Dam Height 20 ft (taller than 28.2% in IL)
Dam Length530 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage241 acre-ft
Normal Storage118 acre-ft
Year Completed1952 (74 years old)
NID IDIL00598

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
Last Inspection: April 12, 2022
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: IDNR

Ownership

GEORGE ATHEY

Private

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Athey Lake Dam?

Athey Lake Dam is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Athey Lake Dam?

Athey Lake Dam is owned by GEORGE ATHEY (Private). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Athey Lake Dam built?

Athey Lake Dam was completed in 1952, making it 74 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Athey Lake Dam?

Athey Lake Dam serves the following purposes: Recreation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Athey Lake Dam?

Athey Lake Dam has a dam height of 20 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

When was Athey Lake Dam last inspected?

Athey Lake Dam was last inspected on April 12, 2022. Inspection dates indicate when a formal review occurred, not the results of that inspection.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.