Cutting Lake Dam dam
Cutting Lake Dam
Cutting Lake Dam in Norton, Kansas, is a local government-owned structure on the North Fork Solomon River, designed by the Works Projects Administration and completed in 1937. This earth dam stands at a height of 37 feet and stretches 550 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 1249 acre-feet and a surface area of 66 acres. The primary purpose of Cutting Lake Dam is for recreation, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water-based activities in the area.
The dam, regulated by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. It features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 200 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 11,000 cfs. Despite being in operation for several decades, the condition of Cutting Lake Dam is not rated, and it has not been inspected since April 2005. The dam's emergency action plan status, risk management measures, and inundation maps preparation are also unspecified.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the infrastructure and management of dams will find Cutting Lake Dam an intriguing case study. Situated in a picturesque location in Edmond, Kansas, this dam not only provides recreational opportunities but also poses certain risks and challenges that require further assessment and monitoring. With its historical significance and ongoing regulatory oversight, Cutting Lake Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources for future generations.
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 Cutting Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie Dog C Ab Keith Sebelius Lake | 2 cfs | → |
| Sf Solomon R Ab Webster Re | 1 cfs | → |
| Sappa C Nr Lyle | 3 cfs | → |
| Saline R Nr Wakeeney | 3 cfs | → |
| Nf Solomon R At Glade | 4 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek Near Beaver City | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cutting Lake Dam.
Campgrounds
- Keith Sebelius Lake Ra
- Prairie Dog State Park
- Logan Lake City Park
- Sheridan State Fishing Lake
- Webster State Park
Fishing spots
- Keith Sebelius (Norton)
- Graham County - Antelope Lake
- Sheridan State Fishing Lake
- Webster Reservoir
- Ellis City Lake
More reservoirs
Track Cutting 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 Cutting Lake Dam
Where does the data for Cutting 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 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 Cutting Lake Dam.