Huffman Dam is an earthen embankment located across the Mad River in northwestern Greene County near the City of Fairborn. A maintenance road/bike trail goes across the top of the dam. Construction of the dam began in January of 1918 and was completed in December of 1921.
The dam has three concrete conduits through the base of the embankment near the left abutment. The conduits are sized to discharge floodwaters at a rate that can be handled by the flood protection levees and channels downstream. The remainder of the floodwaters are temporarily stored behind the dam and released over time. An emergency spillway is located directly above the conduits in the same structure.
Huffman Dam Statistics
Elevation and Hydraulic Information
1913 Flood History: The Relocation Of Osborn
The site of the Huffman dam was once the town of Osborn. Surveys indicated that if there was ever another major event like the 1913 Flood, because of Osborn’s proximity to the Mad River, the entire village would be flooded. Due to this realization, it was determined that Osborn would need to be relocated. Osborn was acquired by MCD (as were many of the properties around the river), and since there was no imminent risk, they allowed the homeowners to stay until they could figure out the best way to remove the structures.
It was during this time that residents, led by the mayor and city attorney, decided to take a stand and created the Osborn Removal Company. The formation and incorporation of this company was to allow the citizens to keep their homes and purchase new property outside of the flood basin, next to the town of Fairfield, roughly two miles southeast of the current village. The Osborn Removal Company bought the properties back from the MCD, and the original owners were given the opportunity to buy their homes back for a fair price, and move them to the new town.
The move of Osborn began in 1922, and took about two years, with nearly 200 houses moved, as well as a few wood-framed businesses. Additionally, the town was platted, graded, and streets and sidewalks were completed, all within this two year time frame. LaPlant-Choate Manufacturing Co. even moved many shade trees and replanted in them new Osborn. The move was completed in 1924, and Osborn had a new home. In 1950, Osborn merged with neighboring Fairfield to become Fairborn.
Huffman MetroPark
Chief Engineer Arthur Morgan felt strongly that the lands surrounding the dry dams (when not actively storing floodwaters) should be available to the public for outdoor recreation use. The land that is utilized for the flood protection system also provides unparalleled public access to the Great Miami River and its tributaries. More than 20 public jurisdictions in five counties hold permits to operate parks, trails and related attractions on Miami Conservancy District land. Five Rivers MetroParks is the largest of these organizations, providing recreational opportunities on hundreds of acres of flood protection land in the Dayton region.
In 1967, Five Rivers MetroParks leased Huffman MetroPark from the Miami Conservancy District. Huffman MetroPark now is primarily managed for natural diversity, providing the Miami Valley with a variety of outdoor activities.
