Mcpherson County State Lake Dam dam
Mcpherson County State Lake Dam
Mcpherson County State Lake Dam, also known as Maxwell Game Refuge, is a state-owned dam located in McPherson, Kansas. Completed in 1954, this dam on Battle Creek serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a serene setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy water-based activities. With a height of 51 feet and a hydraulic height of 47 feet, the dam has a maximum storage capacity of 980 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 540 acre-feet.
Managed by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, the dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state to ensure its safety and functionality. The structure, designed by Wilson and Company, features a buttress core type and spans a length of 720 feet. In the event of high water levels, the dam has a spillway width of 230 feet to safely release excess water. The surrounding area offers a variety of recreational opportunities, making Mcpherson County State Lake Dam a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking to connect with nature.
Despite its high hazard potential, the condition assessment of Mcpherson County State Lake Dam is currently not rated. Emergency action plans and risk management measures are not explicitly outlined in the available data, indicating a potential area for improvement in ensuring the safety and resilience of this vital water resource infrastructure. As climate change impacts continue to pose challenges to water resource management, the importance of proactive measures and regular inspections for dams like Mcpherson County State Lake Dam becomes increasingly crucial in safeguarding both the environment and public safety.
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 Mcpherson County State Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Gypsum C Nr Gypsum | 10 cfs | → |
| Smoky Hill R At Lindsborg | 25 cfs | → |
| Smoky Hill R Nr Mentor | 25 cfs | → |
| N Cottonwood R Bl Marion Lk | 9 cfs | → |
| L Arkansas R At Alta Mills | 5 cfs | → |
| Mulberry C Nr Salina | 93 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mcpherson County State Lake Dam.
Track Mcpherson County State 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 Mcpherson County State Lake Dam
Where does the data for Mcpherson County State 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 Mcpherson County State Lake Dam.