Spearow Dam dam
Spearow Dam
Spearow Dam, located in Pottawatomie County, Kansas, is a private-owned structure designed by USDA NRCS and completed in 1964. This earth dam, standing at a height of 52 feet with a hydraulic height of 35 feet, serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond. With a maximum storage capacity of 109 acre-feet and a normal storage of 63 acre-feet, Spearow Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area.
The dam is regulated and inspected by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Spearow Dam has not been rated for its condition assessment. The dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, and there is limited information available regarding its risk assessment and management measures. However, with its strategic location on the Big Blue River-TR, Spearow Dam remains a key infrastructure for water supply, flood control, and environmental conservation efforts in the region.
In the realm of water resource and climate enthusiasts, Spearow Dam stands as a notable structure in Kansas, contributing to the management of water resources and supporting various ecological functions. Its construction by the Natural Resources Conservation Service reflects a commitment to sustainable water management practices. As stakeholders continue to monitor and assess the condition of Spearow Dam, there is an opportunity to further enhance its operations and emergency preparedness to ensure the long-term resilience of this essential infrastructure in the face of changing climatic conditions.
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 Spearow Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fancy C At Winkler | 8 cfs | → |
| Big Blue R Nr Manhattan | 242 cfs | → |
| Rock C Nr Louisville | 16 cfs | → |
| Kings C Nr Manhattan | · | → |
| Republican R At Clay Center | 112 cfs | → |
| Black Vermillion R Nr Frankfort | 253 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spearow Dam.
Boat launches
- Fancy Creek Mountain Bike Trail - Outer Loop Riley County
- Baldwin Creek Road Riley County
- Riley County
- Gardiner Road Riley County
- Mound Ridge Drive Riley County
- Park Road Pottawatomie County
Campgrounds
- Stockdale - Tuttle Creek Reservoir
- Tuttle Creek Cove - Tuttle Creek Lake
- Tuttle Creek State Park
- Oregon Trail Rv Park
- Blue Rapids/Riverside City Park
- Waterville City
Fishing spots
Track Spearow 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 Spearow Dam
Where does the data for Spearow 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 Spearow Dam.