Ast Dam dam
Ast Dam
Ast Dam, also known as Andale Floodwater Retarding Dam A-2, is a privately owned structure located in Sedgwick, Kansas, near the city of Wichita. Built in 1958 by the USDA SCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 24 feet and spans 700 feet in length, serving multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and as a small fish pond. With a maximum storage capacity of 67.7 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 11.5 acre-feet, Ast Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area.
The dam is situated on Cowskin Creek and has a low hazard potential, with a moderate risk rating. While it is not regulated by the state and does not have a designated inspection frequency, its condition is currently not rated. Despite its minimal risk, the dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 10 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 840 cubic feet per second. Although it has not been modified in recent years, the dam lacks outlet gates and is not equipped with emergency action plans or inundation maps, highlighting potential areas for improvement in its risk management practices.
Overall, Ast Dam serves as a vital water resource structure in Sedgwick County, offering fire protection and irrigation benefits to the local community. While its current risk level is considered moderate, there are opportunities for enhancing its safety measures and emergency preparedness to ensure the continued protection of surrounding areas in the event of a disaster. As a key component of the region's water infrastructure, Ast Dam plays a significant role in the management of water resources and climate resilience in the area.
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 Ast Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cowskin C At 119th St At Wichita | 1 cfs | → |
| Floodway At Arkansas R At Wichita | · | → |
| Arkansas R At Wichita | 178 cfs | → |
| Arkansas R Nr Maize | 89 cfs | → |
| Ninnescah R Nr Peck | 163 cfs | → |
| Floodway At L Arkansas R At Valley Center | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ast Dam.
Boat launches
- West 55th Street South 1378, Wichita
- Wichita
- East 45th Street North 1221, Park City
- East 29th Street North Wichita
Campgrounds
- Lake Afton Park
- Mcconnell Afb Military
- Santa Fe Lake - Augusta
- Wellington Lake West Rec Area
- Wellington Lake East Rec Area
- Argonia River Park
Track Ast 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 Ast Dam
Where does the data for Ast 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 Low 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 Ast Dam.