Richardson Dam dam
Richardson Dam
Richardson Dam, located in Shawnee, Kansas, was completed in 1951 by designers McCracken and Pratt with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Little Soldier Creek. This buttress-type dam stands at a height of 29 feet and has a hydraulic height of 23 feet, providing a storage capacity of 330 acre-feet. The dam is owned and regulated by the local government, with oversight from the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
Despite its age, Richardson Dam's condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated," with an undetermined hazard potential. The dam has not been inspected recently, and its emergency action plan status is unknown. The spillway width is 150 feet, and there are no outlet gates associated with the structure. The dam's risk assessment, management measures, and inundation maps are also not available, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and effectiveness in flood control.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Richardson Dam can appreciate its historical significance in flood risk reduction efforts in the region. With its key location in Topeka and its impact on the surrounding area's water resources, understanding the dam's maintenance needs and operational status is crucial for long-term water management strategies. As the dam's condition and hazard potential remain uncertain, ongoing inspections and updates to emergency preparedness plans will be essential to safeguard the community and environment from potential risks associated with dam failure.
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 Richardson Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Soldier C Nr Delia | 42 cfs | → |
| Soldier C Nr Topeka | 85 cfs | → |
| Kansas R At Topeka | 5,620 cfs | → |
| Kansas R Nr Belvue | 3,850 cfs | → |
| Delaware R Bl Perry Dam | 33 cfs | → |
| Mill C Nr Paxico | 369 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Richardson Dam.
Boat launches
- Northwest 86th Street Shawnee County
- Jackson County
- Rock Creek Boat Ramp
- Devil's Gap Boat Ramp
- Jefferson County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Richardson 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 Richardson Dam
Where does the data for Richardson 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 Undetermined 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 Richardson Dam.