Benson Pond Dam 1 is an earth dam located in Sangamon County, Illinois, built in 1978. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 29 ft29 ft tall and 300 ft long, taller than 65% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 Benson Pond Dam 1
Benson Pond Dam 1 is a dam in Sangamon, Illinois. The dam is owned by Gordon Benson;gordon Benson (private). It impounds the Richard Creek near Petersburg.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 35 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 08/05/2025.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Sangamon |
| Nearest City | Petersburg |
| River/Stream | Richard Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.87390, -89.79786 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 35 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 35 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 24 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 330 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Gordon Benson;gordon Benson |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 08/05/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL40137 |
| Federal ID | IL40137 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |