Buffington Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Saline County, Arkansas, built in 1947. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 18 ft18 ft tall and 1,500 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 Buffington Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Buffington Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by C B Buffington (private). It impounds the Dew Drop Creek near Haskell.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 160 acre-feet. Completed in 1947, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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.
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Location
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Saline |
| Nearest City | Haskell |
| River/Stream | Dew Drop Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.52167, -92.68806 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1947 (79 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 89 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 642 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | C B Buffington |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AR00030 |
| Federal ID | AR00030 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |