Buffalo Creek Dam dam
Buffalo Creek Dam
Buffalo Creek Dam, also known as Buffalo Creek Retention Reservoir, is a crucial water management structure located in Long Grove, Illinois. Owned by a public utility, the dam serves as a flood risk reduction measure along the Buffalo Creek. Designed by MWRDGC and completed in 1983, the earth dam stands at 27 feet tall and spans a length of 620 feet, with a maximum storage capacity of 1,695 acre-feet.
The dam, regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, has a high hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. It features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 204 feet and is regularly inspected to ensure its structural integrity. While the dam does not currently have normal storage capacity, it plays a vital role in mitigating flood risks in the area, protecting the surrounding communities from potential water-related disasters.
With its strategic location and design, Buffalo Creek Dam stands as a critical infrastructure for water resource and climate management enthusiasts. As one of the key flood risk reduction structures in Lake County, Illinois, the dam exemplifies the importance of proactive water management practices in safeguarding communities against natural disasters and ensuring sustainable water resource utilization in the region.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Buffalo Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Creek Near Wheeling | 6 cfs | → |
| Mc Donald Creek Near Mount Prospect | 1 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek At Rolling Meadows | 9 cfs | → |
| Des Plaines River Near Des Plaines | 316 cfs | → |
| Wf Of Nb Chicago River At Northbrook Il | 6 cfs | → |
| Weller Creek At Des Plaines | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Buffalo Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Des Plaines River Trail Mettawa
- Canoe/Kayak Ramp Vernon Hills
- Beck Lake Boat Launch
- Des Plaines River Trail Libertyville
- East Higgins Road Elk Grove Township
- Central Avenue Highland Park
Campgrounds
- Camp Reinberg
- The Hollows Conservation Area Campground
- Fourth Lake Resort Campsite
- Mud Lake West
- Blackwell Youth Campground
- North Branch Conservation Area (Cyclists Only)
Fishing spots
Track Buffalo Creek Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Buffalo Creek Dam
Where does the data for Buffalo Creek Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Buffalo Creek Dam.