Blackburn Pond (mononame 209)

About Blackburn Pond (mononame 209)

The primary purpose of Blackburn Pond (mononame 209) is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Illinois Gulf Central Rr (private). It impounds the Tr-east Fork Elm Branch near Blackburn.

The dam stands 28 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 135 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 170 square miles. Completed in 1966, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.

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. The most recent inspection on record was 07/01/1980. That was 45 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.

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 Missouri 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.