Buffalo Drive Dam is an earth dam located in Sangamon County, Illinois, built in 1950. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 24 ft24 ft tall and 280 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 Buffalo Drive Dam
The primary purpose of Buffalo Drive Dam is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Illinois Department of Natural Resources (state). It impounds the Trib Spring Creek near Springfield.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 280 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 14 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1950, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/26/2023.
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Location
| State | Illinois |
| County | Sangamon |
| Nearest City | Springfield |
| River/Stream | Trib Spring Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.83989, -89.64761 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 280 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 14 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 14 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 9 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 249 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | Illinois Department of Natural Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 04/26/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IL50487 |
| Federal ID | IL50487 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |