Beech Lake Dam dam
Beech Lake Dam
Beech Lake Dam, located in Sedgwick, Kansas, is a privately owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1953 by Beech Aircraft Corp, this earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet and has a length of 1110 feet. It holds a storage capacity of 377 acre-feet and serves as a popular spot for outdoor activities in the area.
The dam, situated on Gypsum Creek-TR, is regulated by the Kansas Department of Agriculture and is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement. With a hazard potential classified as high and a fair condition assessment, Beech Lake Dam is closely monitored for safety. Despite its age, the dam continues to provide valuable recreational opportunities and serves as a vital water resource in the region.
As part of the Kansas City District, Beech Lake Dam is an integral part of the local landscape, offering residents of Wichita and surrounding areas a scenic retreat for fishing, boating, and other leisure activities. With its historical significance and ongoing maintenance efforts, this dam remains a key feature in the water resource and climate conservation efforts of 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 Beech Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas R At Wichita | 183 cfs | → |
| Floodway At Arkansas R At Wichita | · | → |
| Arkansas R Nr Maize | 93 cfs | → |
| Arkansas R At Derby | 226 cfs | → |
| L Arkansas R At Valley Center | 31 cfs | → |
| Whitewater R At Towanda | 29 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Beech Lake Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- East 29th Street North Wichita
- Wichita
- East 45th Street North 1221, Park City
- West 55th Street South 1378, Wichita
- Chelsea
- Old 82nd Road Winfield
⛺ Campgrounds
- Mcconnell Afb Military
- Santa Fe Lake - Augusta
- Lake Afton Park
- Walnut River Rv Park
- El Dorado State Park
- Cave Park
🎣 Fishing spots
- Augusta - Santa Fe Lake
- Wichita - K-96 Lake
- Wichita Watson Park
- Wichita Emery Park Pond
- Sedgwick County Park
- Rose Hill - School St. Pond
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Beech Lake 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 Beech Lake Dam
Where does the data for Beech Lake 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 Beech Lake Dam.