Richton Crossing Dam
Richton Crossing Dam is an earth dam located in Cook County, Illinois, built in 1976. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Richton Crossing Dam
The primary purpose of Richton Crossing Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Borg Warner Equity Corp. (private). It impounds the Trib Butterfield Creek near Matteson.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 490 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 53 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/07/2025.
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 | Cook |
| Nearest City | Matteson |
| River/Stream | Trib Butterfield Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.48432, -87.72995 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 490 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 53 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 53 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 920 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BORG WARNER EQUITY CORP. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/07/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL01084 |
| Federal ID | IL01084 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |