Cawker City Dike, also known as Waconda Lake, is a critical federal water resource infrastructure located in Mitchell County, Kansas. Built in 1969 by the Department of the Interior, this buttress dam stands at a height of 48 feet and boasts a storage capacity of 1,129,000 acre-feet. It serves as an essential offstream diversion structure along the Solomon River, helping to manage water flow and mitigate flooding risks in the area.

With a high hazard potential and a condition assessment currently listed as "Not Rated," maintaining the integrity of Cawker City Dike is crucial to safeguarding the surrounding communities and ecosystems. The dam has an associated structure, KS00021S001, and undergoes inspections every three years to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite not being regulated by the state and lacking certain emergency preparedness measures, the dam plays a vital role in water resource management in the region.

As climate change continues to impact water resources and weather patterns, the importance of infrastructure like Cawker City Dike in mitigating flood risks and ensuring water security becomes increasingly evident. With its strategic location and significant storage capacity, this federal dam remains a key asset in the efforts to sustainably manage water resources in Kansas and protect the local environment from the impacts of extreme weather events.