Wilson Dam dam
Wilson Dam
Wilson Dam, located in Sylvan Grove, Kansas, along the Saline River, is a federal-owned Earth dam completed in 1964 with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Standing at a hydraulic height of 130 feet and a structural height of 160 feet, the dam boasts a total length of 5600 feet and a storage capacity of 736,000 acre-feet. With a surface area of 9040 acres and a maximum discharge capacity of 15,700 cubic feet per second, Wilson Dam plays a crucial role in managing water levels and mitigating flood risks in the region.
Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Wilson Dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam has a high hazard potential, but is equipped with an Emergency Action Plan and meets guidelines for risk management. The risk management measures include continuous monitoring, prioritized maintenance activities, and collaboration with local emergency managers to prepare for potential emergencies. As a key infrastructure for flood control and water resource management, Wilson Dam plays a vital role in safeguarding the surrounding communities and ecosystems from the impacts of severe weather events and flooding.
Overall, Wilson Dam stands as a testament to the importance of effective dam management in mitigating flood risks and ensuring the safety and resilience of water resources and surrounding areas. Through proactive risk management measures and collaboration with local stakeholders, Wilson Dam continues to fulfill its critical role in protecting communities and habitats from the potential impacts of extreme weather events and flooding.
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 Wilson Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Saline R At Wilson Dam | 17 cfs | → |
| Saline R Nr Russell | 7 cfs | → |
| Smoky Hill R Nr Bunker Hill | 58 cfs | → |
| Paradise C Nr Paradise | 0 cfs | → |
| Smoky Hill R At Ellsworth | 18 cfs | → |
| Smoky Hill R Nr Russell | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wilson Dam.
Track Wilson 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 Wilson Dam
Where does the data for Wilson 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 Wilson Dam.