Lake Wynds Dam dam
Lake Wynds Dam
Lake Wynds Dam, located in Cowley County, Kansas, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreation purposes. Completed in 1971, this earth dam stands at a height of 36.4 feet and has a normal storage capacity of 74.8 acre-feet, with a maximum storage of 197.3 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Arkansas River-TR, in the city of Uncas, Oklahoma.
Despite its fair condition assessment, Lake Wynds Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential. It is regulated and inspected by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, ensuring that it meets state safety standards. The dam has a spillway width of 24 feet and no outlet gates, with the last inspection conducted in April 2018. The surrounding area covers 8.54 acres and has a drainage area of 0.19 square miles.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lake Wynds Dam presents an intriguing case study in dam management and recreational water usage. Its association with the Arkansas River and its relatively small storage capacity compared to the hazard potential make it an interesting subject for further study. The dam's location in a private ownership arrangement highlights the diverse landscape of water resource management in the United States, with varying levels of regulation and inspection ensuring public safety and environmental protection.
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 Lake Wynds Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas R At Arkansas City | 841 cfs | → |
| Walnut R At Winfield | 211 cfs | → |
| Chikaskia River Near Blackwell | 293 cfs | → |
| Slate C At Wellington | 25 cfs | → |
| Salt Fork Arkansas River At Tonkawa | 95 cfs | → |
| Chikaskia R Nr Corbin | 176 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Wynds Dam.
Boat launches
- East Madison Avenue Arkansas City
- North Pond Trail Arkansas City
- Flood Dike Road Winfield
- South Lake Road Winfield
Campgrounds
- Bing
- Walnut River City Park
- Newman Park
- Campground (Primitive)
- Winfield Fairgrounds Rv
- Bear Creek Cove - Kaw Lake
Track Lake Wynds 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 Lake Wynds Dam
Where does the data for Lake Wynds 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 Lake Wynds Dam.