Buchanan Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Knox County, Illinois, built in 1987. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 27 ft27 ft tall and 575 ft long, taller than 59% 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 Buchanan Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Buchanan Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Richard and Sharon Buchanan (private). It impounds the Trib French Creek near Yates City.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 575 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 200 acre-feet. Completed in 1987, the structure is 39 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 06/07/2024.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Knox |
| Nearest City | Yates City |
| River/Stream | Trib French Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.82146, -90.06071 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 575 ft |
| Year Completed | 1987 (39 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Max Discharge | 120 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Richard and Sharon Buchanan |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 06/07/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50202 |
| Federal ID | IL50202 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |